Relevance of Banned Books

I was recently interviewed by a student, Donna Crane, working a "Banned Books Honors Project" for Naugatuck Valley Community College. The questions were so interesting, I thought I'd share them with you here, along with my answers: 

Read on . . . 


Q: Do you remember reading any books as a child that were in some way disapproved of or forbidden? If yes, did they traumatize you for life, or did the “forbidden” element make them more enjoyable?

A: Reading Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume as a young girl made me feel like I was not alone. I still remember the shock on my mother’s face when she’d discovered I’d read it. She told me her friends had told her the book contained awful content that no child should read. My mom never actually read the book. I was glad I’d read it before she was told it was “bad,” because the book helped me feel okay about myself.

Q: Why do you think it’s important for controversial books to be physically present in libraries and schools and not just available online?

A: It’s important for controversial books to be physically present in libraries because not all young people have access to e-books and some marginalized kids may only read the books inside the walls of the library, never taking the books home with them for fear of retribution from disapproving parents, family members, or peers.

Q: Do you ever deliberately include controversial scenes when writing for YA to shock or provoke a strong response from the reader? Or do such scenes always arise naturally from the demands of the plot?

A: I write what the plot and characters demand. I do not start out with the intention of writing something controversial. I begin with the goal of writing something I feel passionately about with the hopes of sparking emotions and ideas within the reader.

Q: Have you ever felt guilty or worried about including controversial issues in a book you were writing for YA - do you censor yourself? 

A: I don’t feel guilty, because I don’t cross lines that would cause shame within myself. I have worried about how certain scenes would be received by readers, but that’s one reason I utilize critique partners and beta readers. Based on their responses, I may modify a certain scene, but I will always remain true to myself and to the intents of the plot and characters.

Q: How you feel when people accuse your books of being unrealistic and ‘garbage’, and ask for them to be banned? Upset? Angry? Confused? Amused?

A: I was shocked when a reader posted a review of Unlocked on a library catalog’s site saying, “It explores the world of demonology and I put down the book wishing I had never picked it up. This book is not recommended for children or teens.” I told myself to let it go. It was only one review, but then other adult women posted similar reviews on library sites and Goodreads, “the dark demonic layers are not for me, my family or my home.” I know I shouldn’t read reviews, but I do. And the harsh ones still hurt.

Q: Films are classified by age, and young children are prevented from seeing films that are classified as a 15 or an 18. Do you think this is unreasonable censorship? If not, why shouldn’t we have a similar system for books?

A: Well, first of all, young children are not prevented from seeing the films. They can attend in the theater if they are accompanied by an adult, and they can easily rent or borrow the movie to watch it at home. Anyone can watch Netflix, and it has an entire range of content. I think we should have a rating system for books. I don’t think it would infringe on free speech to simply put a guide on the back of the book with a brief explanation for the rating. Something like: PG-13 for language and sex.

Q: What was the hardest scene to write for Unlocked and Who R U Really? — and where did you get the inspiration to finish it? 

A1: The hardest scene to write for Unlocked was the bathroom scene, because I pushed my personal boundaries to the limits. That scene even scared me. I was worried sending it off to a critique partner to read, but when she emailed me back with a “Holy Sh*t! You scared the crap out of me.” I knew the scene was a keeper.

A2: The hardest scene to write for Who R U Really? was the Scrabble scene, because in real life, I’d experienced that scene as the mom, but I had to write it from the perspective of the teenage girl. It was a challenge to write authentically. My inspiration to finish it came simply from the fact that the book demanded to be written.

Q: How important do you think YA fiction is for teenagers in general, especially when this genre is often criticized for having some adult content and themes?

A: YA fiction is essential, because so many teens feel alone. I speak to a lot of groups about Who R U Really?, and every single time, a teen will come up to me afterward and privately say, “I thought this had only happened to me, and I felt so stupid for so long, but after reading this book, I know I’m not alone. I’m not stupid. I’ll be okay.”

Q: Do you think that there should be some kind of line drawn that limits what an author has a right to write about?

A: No. Absolutely not.

Q: Is banning books technically crossing the line of freedom of the press/freedom of speech? Is book banning limiting knowledge in any way, meaning that by "protecting us" you are also keeping us from learning?"

A: I believe “banning” a book only draws more attention to it. The process makes more people curious about it and want to read it. And yes, banning a book crosses the line of freedom of speech. If you don’t want to read a book, don’t read it, but it’s not necessary to ban it.

Q: What do you think are the biggest issues facing young people today? And what advice would you give them?

A: A major issue facing young people today is the sense of isolation, of feeling alone and different. If a person believes no one can possibly understand what they are going through, life is hard to cope with and suicide becomes a temptation. If a teacher or librarian or parent can hand a book to a young person that helps them understand that they in fact are not alone, that book can save his or her life. I would tell those young people who are struggling: hang on, because things will get better; cling to hope, because tomorrow may bring the joy you’ve been craving.

Author Interview & Book Review: BORN TO BE WILD by Jess P. Shatkin

Since I often speak with teenagers regarding Internet safety, I am intrigued by their common willingness to take risks even though they've been taught, warned, and shown why certain actions could be harmful to them. So when I was offered an early copy of Jess Shatkin's book, Born to be Wild, I jumped at the opportunity to learn more from this nationally recognized adolescent psychiatrist and author. Additionally, I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about both his book and his experience as an author. Scroll on down for my interview with Dr. Shatkin and my review of his book.

Description from the publisher:

Born to Be Wild: Why Teens Take Risks, and How We Can Help Keep Them Safe by Jess P. Shatkin, M.D. (TarcherPerigee; October 3, 2017).

An acclaimed adolescent psychiatrist and educator, Shatkin has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and on Good Morning America.

As any parent of a tween, teen or 20-something knows, adolescents take risks. In fact, those aged 12-26 are hard-wired to take risks, but how do you combat these natural impulses? In Born to Be Wild, Jess Shatkin brings more than two decades' worth of research and clinical experience to the subject, along with cutting-edge findings from brain science, evolutionary psychology, game theory, and other disciplines -- plus a widely curious mind and the perspective of a concerned dad himself.

As Dr. Shatkin illustrates in Born to Be Wild:
* Adolescents are genetically engineered to prioritize emotions over logic: Teens make risky choices for social acceptance and to avoid emotional pain. If a peer is watching, even a peer they don’t know, adolescents are more likely to take risks.
* Teens know that they’re not invincible. In fact, studies have shown that, when teens engage in risky behavior, they often overestimate their chances of being harmed by that behavior.
* Improving parenting practices and increasing parent monitoring can help halt high-risk behaviors: Shatkin shares Parent Management Training (PMT) techniques that emphasize tactful praise over remonstrations of how not to behave.
* Supportive families benefit the brain: Studies show teens raised by parents with low levels of conflict in their homes have less demanding brain reward centers; these teens will engage in less risk-taking behavior because their interpersonal relationships are rewarding.
* Ironically, even though adolescence is a risk-taking time, it is also a time of incredible potential. In Born to Be Wild, Shatkin shows what parents and teachers can do--in everyday interactions, teachable moments, and specially chosen activities and outings--to work with teens' need for risk, rewards and social acceptance, not against it.

About the Author:

Nationally recognized child and adolescent psychiatrist Jess P. Shatkin, M.D., M.P.H., is one of the country's foremost voices in child and adolescent mental health. He serves as Vice Chair for Education at the Child Study Center and Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine. He has been featured in top print, radio, TV, and Internet outlets, including the New York Times, Good Morning America, Parade, New York Magazine, Health Day, CBS Evening News, New York Daily News, Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times. In addition, for the past eight years Dr. Shatkin has been the host of "About Our Kids," a two-hour call-in radio show broadcast live on SiriusXM's Doctor Radio. He lives in New York City with his wife and two teenage children.

For more information visit his site: www.drjesspshatkin.com



My Interview with Dr. Jess Shatkin:

Q: As a busy and well-respected professional in your field of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Pediatrics, how do you balance the time necessary to write a book and uphold the responsibilities of your “day job”?

A: Luckily for me, my day job is to work with and think about children, adolescents, young adults and their families.  So, I’m always addressing the sorts of issues I wrote about in Born to Be Wild and building clinical programs and trainings to help adolescents and their families.  It’s true that finding the time to write a book is tough.  I’ve been thinking about this book for seven years, and started writing it about three years ago.  So, it was a long birthing process and a lot of late nights and stolen hours on weekends.

Q: When you prepared to write and publish your first book, did you need to write a nonfiction book proposal and query agents, or were you approached by a publisher because of your expertise in your field?

A: Well, depending upon how you count books, it’s probably fair to say that this is my third book.  The first book, Treating Child and Adolescent Mental Illness:  A Practical All-in-One Guide, was written for professionals and people training in my field.  W.W. Norton published that in 2009, and we published a second edition, retitled Child and Adolescent Mental Health:  A Practical All-in-One Guide, in 2015.  Also in 2009, I co-edited a book of manuscripts on pediatric sleep disorders, which is an area of my clinical expertise.  So, because of the writing I’ve already done, in addition to research and clinical articles I write for professional journals, I do regularly get approached by academic publishers to write and edit books.  But that type of writing is very different from writing for the public in general, which is what I’ve done here.  So, to get to your real question, yes – I did speak with a few agents and I had to write a long, 120 page!, proposal for the book.  The proposal contained a summary, other books in the field that might be perceived as being similar, a detailed description of each chapter, two completed sample chapters, a marketing analysis, and a lot of info about me.  That was year one of writing this book.

Q: Whenever I pick up a new nonfiction book to read, I always flip to the table of contents first and then scan through the pages to see how the book is formatted. I noticed right away that you’d chosen unusual titles for each of your chapters, which certainly caught my attention and made me curious. Why did you choose to vaguely title chapters (such as “Achtung, Baby!” and “Getting to Gist”) rather than precisely indicating the content of each chapter?

A: One of my goals with this book was to translate new science and its practical application into common language.  As a result, I tried to write in the way that I speak and in a less technical way than I have written in the past.  The “fun” titles themselves are aimed at achieving two things:  First, I’m trying to hook the reader into the topic by making them curious about what’s next; and second, I’m trying to take the essence of what lies ahead and link it to something that the reader may recognize in some way.  Each of the chapter titles is subtitled so that you can see what it really is about (e.g., “Achtung, Baby!” [which is the name of a famous U2 album and therefore may pique some readers’ interest] is subtitled “What doesn’t keep our kids safe” which is what it’s really about).  But you’ll also find that every section of the book within each chapter leads with what I hope is an engaging title and topic sentence.  This was just one of the ways that I tried to reach my goal of bringing people into material that can otherwise, at times, read as dry.

Q: In your easy-to-read narrative style, you shared a lot of anecdotes. Do you ever worry you shared too many personal elements of your own history or the history of others?

A: No, I haven’t worried about that.  I think that everything I shared about myself, while a bit revealing at times, it’s true, is nothing to be ashamed of.  I did make some foolish mistakes growing up, and I had some good fortune as well.  I tried to show myself as I truly am – human and fallible, sometimes successful.  Regarding stories about my own two kids, those are all honest, discussed with them and cleared by them and my wife.  In other words, I didn’t reveal anything about them that they’re not comfortable with me revealing.  Regarding the patient stories I’ve shared, all of the names and details have been changed, and so they will read as anonymous.  I felt it was important to tell the stories so that people who read the book will find it “easy-to-read” as you describe it.  Without stories, I suspect the Bible wouldn’t have lasted…it would just read as a list of do’s and don’ts.  Likewise, with my book – the stories were absolutely necessary to get the points across.

Q: On page 49, you wrote, “During adolescence, dopamine is more robust within our brain than at any other time of our lives. Never again will chocolate taste so good. . . . This is perhaps the major reason that our memories of adolescence are so strong and our allegiances to the institutions of our youth . . . are so profound. Things will never feel this good again.” This passage was a huge lightbulb moment for me while reading your book, because I could never understand why people were so highly invested in high-school reunions and reliving memories from those years. Those years were not the highlight of my life, and I can assure you, each new day in which I get to savor expensive chocolate is a profound day in deed. Chocolate has never tasted so good as it did today, and I expect it to be even better tomorrow. Could my dopamine levels have been less “robust” than my peers during those adolescent years?

A: Well, first of all, you’re very lucky to be enjoying chocolate so much and looking forward to it every day!  My guess is that what you really like about the chocolate, in addition to the taste, is the anticipation of it.  That’s why people often like Friday (even though it’s a work day) more than any other day of the week – they are anticipating a weekend; and why they like Sunday even less than Friday, even though it’s a day off, because they are anticipating the work week ahead.  That’s a dopamine effect – it’s all about the anticipation of pleasure.  And I don’t mean to say that just because dopamine is at all-time highs during adolescence that you cannot enjoy certain things more with age – I think that many things in my life give me more pleasure now than they did when I was younger because I know how to take better advantage of them or utilize them better.  An example might be food – I didn’t really like the taste of truffles (of the fungus variety) as a kid, but around 30, I started to really enjoy them; I became able to distinguish truffles from other flavors and appreciated their uniqueness.  The same is true for me with red wine – I couldn’t tell one from the other at 25 and didn’t really care much about it.  But today, now that I know more and have tasted more wines, I know what I really like and red wine gives me much more pleasure than it did when I was younger.  Perhaps that’s the same with you and chocolate.  But none of this takes away from the fact that our emotional connection to things of our youth is profound, I believe, because we experienced those things at a time when we were primed to find pleasure by the high levels of dopamine.

Q: On page 32, you told a story about Chris who tried to kill himself after being misjudged due to a “zero tolerance policy.” I, too, know of teenagers who’ve attempted suicide because of such policies, and yet these practices remain in place throughout the country. Do you hope that Born to be Wild will shed new light on these school policies and spur a change within those institutions, or do you hope your book will enlighten parents so they can help guide and protect their children from those strict policies?

A: I would hope for both.  Change takes time, but I hope that my book will contribute to an ongoing conversation about how we raise our kids and particularly how we understand adolescents and this unique developmental stage.

Q: What was your number one goal in writing Born to be Wild?

A: My main goal was really to contribute to our understanding of adolescents; and to share what has been learned with the general public.

Q: What is the number one item you hope readers will take away from your book?

A: I hope that readers will gain a better understanding of themselves and adolescents, which I hope will lead to greater empathy, less frustration, and more constructive problem solving in helping our kids grow into healthy and responsible adults.


My Review of Born to be Wild:

My favorite way to read a nonfiction book is with Post-it flags and a pencil, because I love to flag compelling statements and I like to write notes to myself, reminding me of personal epiphanies I had while reading. The problem with this particular book was . . . I ran out of Post-its, because I had trouble using only one per page!

Dr. Jess Shatkin shares profound concepts regarding the teenager's inclination to take risks on nearly every page of his new book, Born to be Wild.

Dr. Shatkin's easy-to-read narrative combines anecdotes and scientific details to explain elements of the teenage psyche. For example, he utilizes a story about trying chocolate for the first time and relates that to how dopamine influences our future choices. Furthermore, he explains, "One of the most significant distinctions between adolescents and adults is the amount of dopamine flowing in different parts of the brain." (page 47) "Because the dopamine system of an adolescent is at its pinnacle and will never be this responsive again, novelty really rocks their world." (page 66)

Born to be Wild not only explores why teens take risks, it also gives effective tools for adults who care about the young people in their lives, offering ways to teach resiliency and provide guidance.

Parents, educators, and leaders of adolescents would benefit from reading Born to be Wild, which delivers thoughtful and scientific insights into the behavior of young adults and offers beneficial ways to help them through these turbulent years.

I highly recommend Born to be Wild by Jess P. Shatkin.



Buy it on Amazon, click here.

[Thank you to FSB Associates for providing me with a copy of this book for review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]

Spring 2017 - Young Adult Scavenger Hunt - #YASH

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! 

I'm Margo Kelly, and I'll be your hostess for this leg of the hunt. I write thrillers, and I'm excited that my second novel, UNLOCKED, has been born into the world! Somewhere along this scavenger hunt, I've shared exclusive content related to UNLOCKED, and clear down at the bottom of this post, I'm giving away a signed hardback copy of it (exclusive to readers of this post) along with a super cool flashlight key chain! Yup. That's right. 

(So be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the bottom of this post before you hop off to the next site in the scavenger hunt!)

By the way, you are currently hunting on TEAM BLUE.

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors ... and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt.

Add up the clues, and you can enter for the prize -- one lucky winner will receive:
one book from each author on the BLUE team! 

But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online until noon on Sunday, April 9, 2017!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SIX contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the BLUE TEAM -- but there are five other teams, each with a different set of books!

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE RULES

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator). 

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by April 9, 2017, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

I am happy to introduce you to the author I'm hosting for the hunt:
Sarah Ahiers

Sarah Ahiers has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and lives in Minnesota with her dogs and a house full of critters. She's the author of ASSASSIN'S HEART and THIEF'S CUNNING and when she’s not writing she fills her time with good games, good food, good friends, and good family.

Find out more information by checking out Sarah's website or find more about her book here!

Allegra Saldana has always had to look over her shoulder. As the niece of the infamous assassin Lea Saldana, Allegra is used to hiding from people who want her dead. Once the strongest clipper family in the Kingdom of Lovero, the Saldanas are now the most hunted. Their number one enemy is the Da Vias, whose thirst for retaliation is almost two decades in the making.

At least that’s what Lea has told Allegra her whole life, but lately Allegra’s been feeling like things are being kept from her—including her parents’ identity. So when Allegra finally learns the truth--I’m a Da Via—her world crumbles. Feeling betrayed by the people she trusted the most, Allegra turns to Nev, a Traveler boy whose presence makes her feel alive in ways she’s only dreamed of. But getting caught up in Nev’s world has consequences Allegra never saw coming.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
 from Sarah Ahiers

Her inspiration board!
Click here to view the full board on Pintrest.

Here is a sampling of Sarah's inspiration:

* * * * *

Now don't forget to enter the YASH contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me and 19 other authors on TEAM BLUE. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on team blue, and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

But before you go, you'll need to know that my favorite number is 11, and there are 11 chances in this exclusive Rafflecopter giveaway for you to win a signed hardback copy of UNLOCKED and a super cool flashlight key chain! (This contest is separate from the YASH contest. Only visitors here are eligible.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONTINUE THE HUNT

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author: AMY PLUM

Tweet #YASH

Interview: Authors on the Air Radio

Today, I had GREAT fun doing an hour-long radio interview with Laura Moe.

We talked about:
* Book Covers
* The DARK SIDE of our psyches
* How reading allows us to experience dangerous things without harming ourselves
* Reading creates empathy for others
* Reading validates us personally
* Youthful fascination with the possibility of anything
* Bringing our own perceptions and filters to a story
* What inspired the story UNLOCKED
* Dangers of hypnosis
* Research process behind UNLOCKED
* Suspending disbelief for the reader
* "7 Things I've Learned So Far" (an article I wrote for Writer's Digest)
* A first manuscript is a learning process and a necessary step on the path to publication
* Editing and revising our own work
* Value of community and synergy
* Writing processes
* The thrilling giddiness of getting published
* How to give a book a boost
* My current work-in-progress
* My advice to aspiring writers: "Write, write, write, and then when you're not writing, read, read, read."

Here's the link to the recording (there's a little blank spot in the middle, but keep listening, it's kind of funny -- then it's crackly for a couple of minutes but it clears up) ...

Authors on the Air Radio: An Interview Margo Kelly

...........

If you work in television or radio and would like to interview me, simply shoot me an email at margokelly1 @ outlook . com (without the spaces) and we'll set it up. I'm also happy to come and speak with your group in person. For more information, click on the "appearance" tab at the top of this site.

Radio Interviews in Boise ID

I had so much fun visiting local radio shows yesterday morning. A big THANKS to Kevin Murphy and Melissa Dawn of the "Murphy & Melissa in the Morning" show on KHITS 107.1 radio. (They are so funny! They had me in stitches before we ever began the on-air interview.) After we finished that interview, I headed over to 94.9 The River and discussed my book UNLOCKED with Tim and Misty on the "River Morning" show. Tim and Misty are book lovers! YAY for reading. And I'm so glad I didn't accidentally belch during either interview. Below are some pictures for your viewing pleasure. At the bottom of this post is the audio file from the interview with Tim & Misty, so take a listen!

Click on the audio button below to listen to the interview with Misty & Tim on 94.9FM The River.

My most profound statement during the interview (feel free to quote me) ... "If you want to be a writer, you need to write something." Wow. That makes me sound really smart. ha!

Fall 2016 YA Scavenger Hunt

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! 

I'm Margo Kelly, and I'll be your hostess for this leg of the hunt. I write thrillers, and I'm excited that my second novel, UNLOCKED, has been born into the world! Somewhere along this scavenger hunt, I've shared exclusive content related to UNLOCKED, and clear down at the bottom of this post, I'm giving away a signed hardback copy of it (exclusive to readers of this post) along with a super cool flashlight key chain! Yup. That's right. 

(So be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the bottom of this post before you hop off to the next site in the scavenger hunt!)

By the way, you are currently hunting on TEAM GOLD.

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors ... and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt.

Add up the clues, and you can enter for the prize -- one lucky winner will receive:
one book from each author on the gold team! 

But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online until noon on Sunday, October 9, 2016!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SIX contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the GOLD TEAM -- but there are five other teams, each with a different set of books!

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE RULES

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the gold team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator). 

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by October 9, 2016, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

I am happy to introduce you to the author I'm hosting for the hunt:
Erica Cameron

Erica is many things but most notably the following: writer, reader, editor, asexual, dance fan, choreographer, singer, lover of musical theater, movie obsessed, sucker for romance, Florida resident, and quasi-recluse. She is also the author of The Dream War Saga, the Assassins series, and the upcoming Ryogan Chronicles, plus co-author of the Laguna Tides novels.

Find out more information by checking out Erica's website or find more about her book here! 

Kindra’s moral compass has never pointed north, but that’s what happens when you’re raised as an assassin and a thief. At sixteen, she’s fantastic with a blade, an expert at slipping through the world unnoticed, and trapped in a life she didn’t chose. But nothing in her training prepares her for what happens when her father misses a target.

In the week-long aftermath, Kindra breaks rank for the first time in her life. She steals documents, starts questioning who their client is and why the target needs to die, botches a second hit on her father’s target, and is nearly killed. And that’s before she’s kidnapped by a green-eyed stranger connected to a part of her childhood she’d almost forgotten.

Kindra has to decide who to trust and which side of the battle to fight for. She has to do it fast and she has to be right, because the wrong choice will kill her just when she’s finally found something worth living for.


EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
 from Erica Cameron

-- YASH has ended, and so the exclusive content has been removed. See you next YASH! --

* * * * *

Now don't forget to enter the YASH contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me and 19 other authors on TEAM GOLD. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on team gold, and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

But before you go, you'll need to know that my favorite number is 11, and there are 11 chances in this exclusive Rafflecopter giveaway for you to win a signed hardback copy of UNLOCKED and a super cool flashlight key chain! (This contest is separate from the YASH contest. Only visitors here are eligible.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONTINUE THE HUNT

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author: KATHLEEN BALDWIN

Tweet #YASH

Frequently Asked Questions of Margo Kelly, Author

Here are answers to the questions I'm most commonly asked during interviews:

Q: As a public speaker, you’re already something of a professional communicator, but there is a difference between the spoken word and the written one. Was the transition from orator to author a challenging one for you? 

A: In some ways, yes, because much of my public speaking has been on non-fiction topics such as business, sales, and recruiting. Now I’m writing fiction for the young adult audience. These are two completely separate worlds. However, any great public speaker includes stories, personal details, and a bit of hyperbole to keep the interest of the listeners. The art of engaging the audience has definitely helped me translate stories to paper.

Q: What was the greatest thing you learned at school?

A: The greatest thing I learned at school was to think for myself. Just because someone says something doesn’t make it true. Researching and challenging the statements of others became an essential skill.

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up? 

A: I wanted to be a writer … or ruler of the universe … they’re pretty much the same thing.

Q: How do you react to a bad review?

A: With my favorite ice cream: Chocolate Haagen-Dazs.

Q: What makes you cringe? 

A: Cockroaches … really any kind of bug or spider or creepy-crawly thing makes me cringe! I once slept with a can of Raid next to my bed, because when we lived in Arizona our apartment had a poisonous centipede infestation. I kid you not! We used bug-bombs multiple times, and those huge suckers kept returning. Legs as thick as toothpicks. Bodies as long as nine inches. My husband went after one once with a butcher’s knife (quickest thing he could grab). He chopped that thing into multiple pieces, and each piece scampered off in a different direction. It would not die. Ack. Just thinking about it makes me cringe! I still check my sheets every night before climbing into bed.

Q: You are stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want? 

A: Computer, WiFi, and an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not writing? 

A: I love to make quilts, go camping, garden, and read.

Q: What’s on your nightstand?

A: Dust. Because I’d rather read than clean house. In addition to the dust, I have a stack of over twenty books and my Kindle (with countless additional books waiting to be read).

Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?

A: Dean Koontz, Mindy McGinnis, Marissa Meyer, Barry Lyga, Janet Evanovich, Marie Lu, Dan Wells, Patricia Briggs, Leigh Bardugo, oh there are so many great authors out there!

Q: If you could choose only one, who would be your favorite author?

A: Dean Koontz, for his page-turning thrillers. My desire is to write fast paced thrillers for the young adult audience.

Q: Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?

A: I love to read, and I have a lot of favorites, but if I have to pick just one, I suppose I’d choose Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz. It not only kept me turning pages, but it also caught me by surprise in the end. Any plotline that is unpredictable impresses me, but I especially enjoyed Odd Thomas because he’s such a lovable character. Koontz writes great thrillers. Outside of my genre – I’d have to say I love the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. Every single book in the series has made me laugh out loud at some point. I love fast paced, plot driven books.

Q: What was your favorite book as a child/teen?

A: Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

Q: If you could live in any book “world” which book would it be? 

A: Oh. My. I read a lot of thrillers, horrors, and dystopias … so I don’t know that I’d want to live in any of them. ;) I would want to live in a tranquil place. So I suppose I’d want to live in the world of Anne of Green Gables -- Prince Edward Island. 

Q: If you had a time machine where would you go back in time or ahead? And who would you like to visit. 

A: I would go back in time about fifteen years to visit more with my maternal grandmother before she passed away from this life.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: Two dogs. We rescued our big black dog from the local shelter, and they had named him Black Sabbath. The little white dog, which we also rescued, was really tiny when we first brought him home. We wanted to give him a name opposite of Black Sabbath. So we named him Rascal Flatts. We call him Rascal.

Q: Any pet peeves? 

A: Dog hair (no pun intended) … and yet, I have two wonderful dogs who shed hair everywhere and on everything, and I love them.

Q: When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie? 

A: I’m a pretty honest and even blunt person. I don’t usually lie. If you ask me a question I don’t want to answer, I will either say, “Oh, that’s a story for another day.” Or, “Frankly, that’s none of your business.”

Q: Who was your first boyfriend?

A: A boy I met at the roller-skating rink. I can’t even remember his name.

Q: Tell me about your first kiss

A: When I was a preteen I tackled the cute neighbor boy and planted one right on him.

Q: Do you believe in love at first sight? 

A: Yes. I fell in love with my husband at first sight. I went back to my college dorm that night and told all of my friends that I was going to marry him. They thought I was nuts, but they laughed when I announced our engagement about five months later.

Q: What's the memorable summer job you've ever had?

A: I only lasted two weeks at KFC. It was so greasy that I kept slipping on the floors and falling. Grease covered every surface, and I went home feeling so icky every day. But I still eat there occasionally! 

Q: What’s your favorite season/weather? 

A: Fall

Q: Beach or pool? 

A: Sandy beach along a river in Idaho

Q: Where is the best place in the world you’ve been?

A: I’ve traveled a lot. I’ve been to places like Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Cancun, Panama, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington D.C., Williamsburg, Puerto Rico, and many other great places. But the best place in the world is amongst the pine trees in the mountains of Idaho next to a rushing white-water river.

Q: Where can readers stalk you online?

A: Website: www.margokelly.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MargoKelly.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MargoWKelly

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/margokelly

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margowkelly/ 

Frequently Asked Questions about Writing

During interviews, I'm often asked about writing. Here are some of the most common questions I receive:


Q: When did you first consider yourself a writer? 
A: I wrote a lot of poetry when I was young. (I don’t write poetry anymore.) And I always wanted to be a writer … or ruler of the universe … they’re kind of the same thing. But I honestly considered myself a writer way back in elementary school when I wrote a poem about roller-skating, and it was published in a small booklet.

Q: Are you self-pubbed or traditionally published? What made you go for this model? What advice/tips can you share with writers working towards the same goal?
A: I chose the traditional publishing route, because it felt like the right choice for me. I wanted the editorial input of a talented agent, and I wanted the business expertise of a publishing house. My advice for writers working toward being published via the traditional route is to make sure your manuscript is as polished as possible before querying agents. Then when you receive feedback from agents or editors, consider their advice carefully and improve your manuscript based on the feedback you’ve received.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
A: Christi Corbett (author of ALONG THE WAY HOME) advised me to keep an “I don’t suck” file, which is basically a resource of reviews that compliment my writing. That way any time a rejection or terrible review comes my way, I can refer back to the flattering items and not feel quite so awful.

Q: What are some of the common challenges that new and experienced authors face and what advice do you have for overcoming them?
A: The most common challenge is rejection – an agent rejecting a query, an editor rejecting a submission, or a reader rejecting a book. Rejection is the toughest test a writer faces. And honestly, the only way to overcome it is to eat a lot of chocolate refer back to the “I don’t suck” file.

Q: What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? 
A: Revise. Revise. Revise. Finishing the first draft of your manuscript is an awesome accomplishment, but do not stop there. Revise it. Find a fellow writer to critique it. Revise it. Find another person to critique it. And revise again.

Q: Do you write as you go, or do you have the book all planned out from page one? 
A: I have found that creating a story “road map” (not a precisely plotted outline) works best for me. It gives me direction while writing, but it is more flexible than a detailed outline.

Q:  Are you worried your Google history will get you into trouble? 
A: Absolutely! I have googled some pretty sketchy topics … all in the name of book research, of course.

Q: Where is your favorite spot to write?
A: My favorite place to write is in my office next to my window, which looks out into my garden full of berries: raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries.

Q: How do you celebrate the completion of a book? 
A: With my favorite ice cream: Chocolate Haagen-Dazs

Q: What do you enjoy the most about writing? 
A: I love the challenge of translating the vision in my head to a story on paper that someone else then reads and envisions in their own mind.

Q: How do deal with writer’s block? 
A: The hardest part of writer’s block is pushing through it. That means first, I have to sit down and start. Sometimes I’ll set the timer for fifteen minutes and force myself to just write – even if it’s terrible and even if I delete it later – because sometimes the physical action of typing will get the creative energy flowing again.

Q: Anything you would've done differently if you could do it all over again? 
A: I would have read more books on the craft of writing before I began to query agents. Some of my favorite books on writing include:
THE FIRE IN FICTION by Donald Maass
SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder
THE STORY BOOK by David Baboulene
SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS by Browne & King