Interviews
Best books of 2021 for kids, young adults and families tell stories about ourselves
November 14, 2021My superb editor, Jessica Banov, interviewed me and published this lovely article on NOVEMBER 12, 2021. You can read the article here and see the splendid graphics she laid out (that I can’t copy well) at this link: https://www.newsobserver.com/living/article255661376.html#storylink=cpy read more »
Launching a universe: NC author’s first YA novel debuts on NYT Best Sellers list
September 25, 2020published in the News and Observer, Friday, September 25th, 2020 North Carolina author Tracy Deonn was at a loss for words Wednesday when her first young adult novel, “Legendborn,” debuted at No. 5 on The New York Times’ Best-Sellers List. read more »
Interview with Nicola Yoon
July 30, 2019Just realized I’d not posted this interview so I’m catching up! Interestingly I just read the first YA book by her husband, David Yoon. He’s just as amazing! I did this interview for AudioFile (April/May 2017) Talking with read more »
YA best-selling novelist Sarah Dessen is back with a new book and a Netflix deal
June 2, 2019(published in the News and Observer, June 2, 2019 https://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/article230901539.html) Over 23 years, Chapel Hill author Sarah Dessen has published 14 novels for young adults. As her books have become best-sellers, she has become a teen icon in the literary read more »
Talking with Bill Konigsberg
May 16, 2019(published in AudioFile Magazine, April, 2019–note images are linked to Indiebound Books–please support them!) Bill Konigsberg is a YA novelist who has “a tendency to speak out.” He attributes this to his mother. “For better or worse, she taught me read more »
YA author draws upon adventurous spirit in writing her new novel
September 17, 2018Author Makiia Lucier recently moved to the Triangle from Idaho, and she may be one of the few who loves North Carolina’s characteristically humid summers. “It reminds me of Guam where I grew up,” said Lucier, who has settled in read more »
Former teacher hit success with his first novel, ‘Nyxia.’ Then came the sophomore challenge.
July 20, 2018(published in the News and Observer, July 15, 2018) (https://www.newsobserver.com/living/article214735875.html) Ten months ago, Scott Reintgen published “Nyxia,” launching a YA science-fiction trilogy that netted him a mid-six figure advance and a lot of buzz. His second book, “Nyxia Unleashed,” read more »
Award-winning author wants to add more diverse voices to children’s literature
April 28, 2018(Published in the News and Observer, April 22, 2018) http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/books/article209168304.html I last spoke to Kwame Alexander in 2014, months before his book “The Crossover,” won the prestigious Newbery Award for his contributions to children’s literature. The novel read more »
Talking with Jason Reynolds
April 27, 2018(published in AudioFile April-May 2018) https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/authors/jason-reynolds/ Jason Reynolds is a bestselling author whose novels for middle schoolers and teens have been honored by the National Book Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, and the American Library Association. But perhaps his greatest read more »
Author strives to show a different face of homelessness: ‘She’s more than this one issue
February 26, 2018In the acknowledgments for Brenda Rufener’s debut novel, “Where I Live,” the Durham author speaks of “writing from the heart.” She does just that in telling the story of teenager Linden Rose, whose intelligence and wit make her successful in read more »
