The Grace Tour with Kim Liggett Recap

I had the pleasure to attend the Boston stop for The Grace Tour at the Brookline Booksmith on Tuesday, October 8th, aka pub date for The Grace Year. I was so excited to see Kim Liggett along with moderator/author Sasha Alsberg and authors Holly Black, Rory Power and Libba Bray. I have been a huge fan of Kim Liggett’s books since I was fortunate enough to get an ARC of Blood and Salt at BEA 2015. Since then, Kim has published five books!

I met up with my friend Rachel for some ramen before heading over to Brookline Booksmith. I wanted to make sure I got a good seat so Rachel and I went to the bookstore fairly early. We browsed the store a bit and met a few YA book lovers. Rachel couldn’t stay for the event but I was so happy that I was able to see her for a little bit that night.

The panel itself was pretty hilarious. Sasha started off with an icebreaker. She asked everyone what is the most outlandish plot they wrote. She mentioned that she had a story where Justin Bieber and Criminal Minds merged together called FBI Girlfriend, Pop-Star Boyfriend.  Holly mentioned that she wrote Nights of the Silver Sun in which she mentioned she probably meant Moon. She wrote the story in 8th grade about the Interview with the Vampire mashed up with another book/show. Rory wrote a persuasive piece when she was 14-years-old about how a girl who convinced her parents to lease a horse for $20.00. Libba mentioned "all my crazy ideas have been published." She also talked about a vampire movie musical. Kim exclaimed she didn't start writing until she was 40 or so. She also said that there are no books in her drawers but at one point she had an idea for a necrophilia romance which was shot down.

Sasha talked about how The Grace Year is hauntingly beautiful yet she asks Kim, how do you scare your readers without showing it. Kim mentioned, "I don't think it's more horrifying compared to what we see everyday" when she talks about The Grace Year. With sexual assault, the Me Too Movement and how people are treated everyday, the apple is not far from the tree. Kim talks about how even thought she writes horror, she is afraid of everything.

Sasha discussed he mean girl trope and about what invokes girl on girl hatred. She mentioned about how there is a competition and how it can provide a story line and character development. She asked all the authors how do you tackle the mean girl trope and what do you think about it. Kim talked about how it is so easy to do. Girls should have offered a more helping hand. They shouldn’t bully. Kim mentioned about how this “book changed me. I changed how I view women. I grew up with Tierney.” Rory talked about how she “loves mean girls.” Her book has 40 mean girls stuck on an island. She talked about how “everyone sucks” and talks about feminism. Holly mentioned how we shouldn’t allow girls to be mean in fiction. Girls should have a complete set of emotions and not just being mean. Libba discussed about thinking about the internal misogyny and found families. There are so many ways to express feelings and sometimes people are not allowed access of rage. We need to practice being in the ring and to forge friendships. It’s about sparring and giving edges. Sasha talked about how girls should be empowering and there should be a mutual respect among people.

Sasha asked, "If your character lives until 80-years-old, what would they tell their grandchildren?" Rory thinks fondly about how her main character broke a nose over an orange. Holly mentioned how Aurora tells her children how Prince Philip ate a mouse heart. Kim exclaimed how Tierney tells how the grace year ended. Libba said two words..band camp.

In terms of mythology, Sasha asked Holly how she crafted her fairytale world and what she did for research. Holly talks about Brian Froud and Alan Lee’s book called Faeries and the movie Labyrinth. These frightening and folkloric creatures of nature intrigued her. She did a lot of research on England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. I love Brian Froud's work on faeries in general. I highly checking out his works and Amy Brown's.

Hearing from the authors about if they plan the twists and turns before the ending was fascinating. Libba talked about how she doesn't plan at all. She explores the human condition. Libba also mentioned about the project when she says "Help me, Baby Jesus." And the response is "Jesus can't help you." She goes where the series goes and where it takes her. In terms of being a plotter or a panster, Libba mentions how she puts the characters through so much and they go through so much growth. Of course she is panster.

Kim exclaimed that things get worse before they get better. She knew all of her story at once after getting inspired to write The Grace Year. This has never happened before with other novels. She was at Penn Station and noticed a family in front of her. There was a girl who was 13 to 14-years-old. There was a man passing by. He stared at the girl and looked up and down. A woman passed by and she looked at the girl but with a look of sadness. The girl was going back to boarding school. The parents were relieved since the girl was tucked away for a year, keeping her safe. It’s a brutal system. It’s a gut punch. The beginning and ending was written during the trip to DC. “I had to write the book,” Kim said. It was a profound and weird experience but she knew she had to have this story be told.

Sasha asked the panelists about how they feel about backlash when they kill off a character or if they put the character through a tough feat. Sasha talked about how she appreciates the invoking of emotions. Holly feels like a message is being sent in a bottle. She disconnects with sending emotional and angry feelings and how someone receives it.

The authors discussed about what was one thing they wish they knew before they published books. Rory said that she was lazy and said yes a lot to things. She didn’t know what she was getting into. She learned how the brain thinks and how to control her impulse. Sasha exclaimed that she wished she took a public speaking course and she learned that editors don’t edit the whole book for you.

Sasha talked about creativity and asked the authors about “what is something that refilled the creative well beyond your writing?” Sasha mentioned about how she likes to paint. Kim used to be a backup singer in the 80’s. She had Aqua Net hair and she started being a backup singer when she was 16-years-old. Kim fell in love with stories this way. She mentioned about how deep hurts come from young adulthood. It’s the heard of the matter. Everything else are symptoms. Right now, Kim doesn’t sing anymore. She had massive stage fright. She stepped in front to do a showcase and she froze. Normally, she doesn’t see everyone since she is not in the spotlight. Kim exclaimed how living your own life refills the well. She had a lot of life experience and she talking about enjoying yourself. Libba is a frontwoman of a band. She writes and records music. Occasionally she will have some performances. Rory watches TV such as Criminal on Netflix. Holly loves gothic interior decorating.

Sasha had several rounds of lighting speed questions and answers.

1. What is your favorite toothpaste?
Some answers included Sensodyne, Biotene and Tom’s.

2. What is your favorite writing instrument?
Libba: Pen and paper
Kim: Rollerball
Rory: Laptop
Holly: Laptop

3. What is your least favorite word? You cannot use moist.
Libba: Trump!
Kim: Winger
Rory: Fester
Holly: Carbunkle

4. What is your favorite baking dishes?
Libba: Seamless
Kim: Brisk chicken
Rory: Microwave
Holly: Pumpkin bread
Sasha: I can't bake cookies at al.

5. What is your favorite fall snack.
Libba: Pumpkin spice..."souls of my enemies"
Kim: Apples
Rory: Cheez-its
Holly: Coffee

6. Coffee or wine?
Libba: Coffee!
Kim: Coffee!
Rory: Yes!
Holly: Ditto

7. What is your favorite city?
Sasha: London
Libba: Providence...and all 14 that live there.
Kim: Rome
Rory: Edinburgh
Holly: London and Edinburgh

8. What is your least favorite clothing?
Sasha: Socks
Libba: Bra
Kim: Bra
Rory: Tights
Holly: Bra

Sasha asked the authors what they are reading currently or what they just finished reading. Libba mentioned Wilder Girls, Three Women and Middlegame. Holly said Wayward's Son. Sasha then ends her series of questions with, "What is next for you?" Sasha talked about an urban folklore fantasy. Libba said a vampire music musical but she really is working on the last book of the Diviners series, King of Crows. Kim is currently working on two novels. One is adult and one is YA. Both has to do about what ring women together. Rory is working on a new standalone that is coming out in 2020. She describes it as corn of horror and field of nightmares. Holly is finishing up the highly anticipated Queen of Nothing.

Sasha opened up questions to the audience. One reader/teacher mentioned how they are introducing social justice themes into their curriculum for their students. They asked the authors what is one thing you wanted to hear as a 16-year-old? What did you want to know? The authors talked about rules and permission. They are not trying to play by the rules to win because rules aren't set up for us to win. We need to dismantle the system. You don't have to ask for permission to do this.

Someone asked Rory about the integration of girls discovering queerness and the exploration and how that is natural. Rory responds with how it's an important element. It's not just one particular experience. She poses the question, "Do I want to be her or be with her?" Another person wanted to hear Rory talk more about the antagonists vs. protagonists. Rory mentioned, "Everyone is a protagonist in your own story." She loves terrible girls. Rory talks about how the darker parts of a story is acknowledging parts of themselves.

The panel ended with a signing and I was so excited to see Kim again. I saw Kim a couple time back in 2015 at BEA and the Boston Teen Author Festival when Blood and Salt was published. I haven't seen her since and I was ecstatic when she told me she will be around the Boston area in October. Of course, I made sure to block it out on my calendar. It was so great to be able to catch up for a few minutes with Kim and to congratulate her on her 5th published novel! I have been a fan since Blood and Salt, which is her debut novel. Definitely check out all of Kim's novels which include Blood & Salt, The Last Harvest, Heart of Ash, The Unfortunates and The Grace Year.

Boston Book Festival 2015

Saturday, October 24th was such a crazy day. It was the perfect weather for the annual Boston Book Festival. The subway was kind of a pain with all of the delays but it made it in time for the Libba Bray Keynote. What I love about the Boston Book Festival is how all the panels take place at the Boston Public Library or at churches around the city near Copley Square.

Libba Bray's Keynote is the first YA Keynote the Boston Book Festival has ever hosted and boy was it packed. Bray's event was located in the Emmanuel Sanctuary. Thank you to Elizabeth from Book YAbber and Marci from Reading in the Tardis for saving me a seat! Libba is hilarious as always! Robin Brenner from the Brookline Public Library moderated the keynote. According to Libba, she is not organized when it comes to research. When researching for The Diviners, she read many books about the early 1900's.

But how do you decide what to include in the book? Libba responded with "let me see, I'll have some cake and see what happens." But seriously, Libba will actually visit places to include in her books such as an asylum that will be a big part of Book 3 in The Diviners series.

So what about the diversity of the cast in The Diviners series? How do you choose what character to bring out? The series is scheduled for 4 books with maybe a 5th book in the works. Libba mentioned about "there is nothing more powerful on Earth than story." She questions things like "who controls the narrative?," "how is the narrative and history shaped for us?" and "what is our responsibility?" Certain things are particular to the time period like Harlem and the Chinese Exclusion Act. Unions were important during the era as well. Diversity "represents the world we live in." If Libba was able to bring things back from the 1920's she would bring 1920's fashion, jazz and the radio when it was exciting and new.

Libba has always been a big horror fan. Horror is routed in emotional states with grief, death and sorrow. It's a metaphor of what humans do that are monstrous.

And what is the best and worst writing advice Libba received? According to Libba's favorite author, George Sanders, "take risks and tell the story you need to tell." Taking risks and listening are very important. I will leave it to that.

When Libba Bray was talking about drafts, I laughed when she talked about drafts.
Draft #13 - Help me baby Jesus.
Draft #14 - Jesus can't help you.

Libba explained how "the reader owns the book when it's in their hands. My work is done." In terms of audio book accents, she calls upon her theater background. It comes in handy for writing too. She claims, "I do hear all the voices in my head."

How does Libba develop characters?  She likes to borrow characteristics from people she knows and dresses them in fabulous outfits.

One audience member was ecstatic that Libba added a bi-racial character to The Diviners series. Libba mentioned how an "healthy escape for us is fantasy. Books let you try on different identities. It nurtures the soul and fosters empathy and lets us explore."

Kirun Kapur moderated the BBF Unbound: Why YA is for Everyone? panel with Rachel DeWoskin, Cindy Rodriguez and Carolyn Mackler. In 2010 YA purchases increased 30%. Nowadays, 50% of YA books are purchased by adults.

The panelists were asked what books they loved mattered to them when they were younger.
Cindy mentions how she has always been an avid reader and The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton was her favorite book when she was younger. She can identify with Ponyboy even though Ponyboy is a male. Rachel said The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison was her favorite book. It changed the landscape of the imagination and understanding. Her views on interior life, life and politics changed. Carolyn often went to different books for different reasons. She gravitated toward Judy Blume but went to Lois Lowry for deep books.

What do adult overlook about young adults and children? Cindy mentioned how adults neglect everyday things that children and young adults go through. They hear swearing and experience romance. Life shouldn't be a glorified different reality. She tells adults not to be condescending and how adults shouldn't shelter and protect their children so much. Rachel mentioned how she tries to write novel with girls being nice to each other. The betrayals are often motives that are hard to coordinate and not because someone is being bad. Writing in different perspectives helps even if you don't include it in the novel. Carolyn talks about craft. She wrote five different novels before she finished the Infinite in Between. This is helpful since she was able to capture the voices of all five high schoolers seamlessly and is able incorporate all five voices into one book. It is important to understand how the characters are affected by the same moments but see things in different perspectives.

Cindy mentioned if a character that a reader relates to dies, it sends a certain message to the reader. It is important to be selective and careful about the outcomes of characters throughout a novel. Rachel talked about coming back to what anchors you when thinking when going through dark times. Carolyn explained how it important for YA to understand what the author is going through. Dark times through life will reflect in the books. When the author is going through falling in love or having healthy friendships, happy moments shine in the novel When the author experience sickness, grief over a lost one or having any allergy scare, dark moments are seen in the novel.  Cindy describes how she likes to write something different for a change of pace. Her first novel is dark and about despair but her second book is happy, fun and light.

Why write YA? Cindy explained about she can choose what she wants to read in YA instead of being assigned reading for school. Rachel said with YA you can say the truth. With Adult fiction, children in the novel are usually representing history of the past. With YA, there is no distance about the character. It happens right at the moment.

How do authors manage their days? Carolyn writes when the children are in school but social media is often a buzz kill and distraction She tries to create a white room when writing. Cindy lives for snow days and summers since she teaches and has a child.

My last panel took place at the Teen Center at the Boston Public Library. Not only is the Boston Public Library in Copley Square amazingly beautiful but it's freaking HUGE! I feel like I am walking into Hogwarts! 

The YA: Boys to Men panel was moderated by Amy Pattee and authors present included Jason Reynolds, Brendan Kiely, Matt de la Peña and Andrew Smith. This panel was definitely my favorite out of the three at the Boston Book Festival. There was a lot of information I can use to help encourage my students to read books. It is interesting about how they talked about males being the minority when it comes to YA readers and YA authors. I was also interested about what authors had to say about profiling and stereotyping targeted against certain groups. 
When Matt first sold his first book and his literary agent told him it sold as YA, Matt admitted to Googling YA since he didn't know what it was. He writes books and strives for literature. He tells people to avoid repeating yourself and to try something new. Matt also mentions how socioeconomic and cultural differences shape who a person is. In certain cultures, males have certain expectations they have to live up to and if they don't, they are look down upon.
Jason talked about when he writes, he doesn't push his agenda; he writes life stories. He is a male and a writer but he tells the audience that he is not a male writer. There's a difference. A writer is a writer. It shouldn't matter if the writer is male or not. Jason writes for others and not for a particular gender nor demographic. He writes characters as human beings. Someone once asked him how he writes females well in his novels. Jason responded because it is part of his profession, he just writes. 
Jason actually mentioned that at a juvenile hall, most kids wanted to read romances. They wanted to read books by Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, Cassandra Clare and by Lauren Oliver. They didn't read books by Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Meyers. You cannot profile people about what they read. When boys and young men are asked if they are okay and when they say they are fine, they are usually not fine. They experience the sadness or the pain but society tells them that they must suck it up. 
Andrew believes a lot of males have this internal struggle and that they are boxed in because of the Y chromosome. Society tells males to be masculine and strong. They are high expectations to live up to. Andrew writes what he knows. He doesn't sugarcoat anything. Andrew mentions how male authors are a minority in YA whether it be in publishing industry or as an author. He also gives advice to students about how falling in love will not fill out all the empty holes you have. Don't get caught up in relationships. 
Brendan mentions how we should diversify all books to reach all types of readers. Someone is not born a reader; a reader is made. Authors need to create the work in order for people to latch on to and to read. They need to create the springboard. 

How do you promote literacy to males, especially if the males are very masculine? Andrew said to break down gender barriers for books. Just talk about books. See what kind of books they will be interested in. Matt mentioned that you need to read to them and not just any book. You need to read books that they want to read. Brendan encouraged showing movie clips of film adaptations. Relate the film to the book counterpart. Comparisons will help get the reader interested. Jason gave great advice about how to get males to read. Don't be tied down to stories. He said to give them all types of things to read. You can use rap lyrics and tell males that it's poetry. Get them interested to lyrics because when you get them hooked, they will want to read more. You want to open it up to what it means to read.
A librarian asked how do you have diverse books be available to readers especially when others on a committee claim diverse books don't get checked out often from the library? Pitch two books and see what the child chooses. Educating readers about what types of books are out there also helps. Once a reader finds an author on genre that speaks to them, they will be hungry for more.

THANK YOU to all the authors, publishers, Boston Book Festival organizers and volunteers for making this event possible!