On The Shelf with Honora Quinn

Today I had the absolute pleasure of talking with T.L. Simpson about his debut YA novel STRONG LIKE YOU. We discuss how his previous work in journalism, especially on the crime beat, impacted and helped form the story and how he set out to to write this story for those who need it most.

Almost two years ago I got the honor of talking with Camille about her novel THE GODMOTHERS, a book a devoured, and since that day I have been waiting for her next novel. Enter THE GIRL FROM THE GRAND HOTEL, set at the first, and doomed, Cannes Film Festival...

Incoming to a bookstore near you... a YA thriller with layers of the supernatural. THE DARKNESS RISES follows Whitney who can tell when someone is about to die...

Tracy and I spoke just over a year ago about THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL STATEMENT, a surprisingly stressful novel about faking your way into college, and she is back again with another stressful tale. Enter WE'RE NEVER GETTING HOME, a story about getting stranded at a music festival on the brink of friendship collapse...

I love talking with Tracy once again and hope you check out her work!

Today on OTS I talk with John Be Lane about his novel The Future Lies. A Dystopian sci-fi novel that at is core is about love.

This week I got to talk with author and artists Sarah Mai about her graphic novel Freshman Year! We discuss what goes into creating a book from both the art and writing sides as well as delving deep into one's own history.

Today I got to talk with YA author of both prose and poetry (in the same book no less!) Patrick Flores-Scott about his newest novel NO GOING BACK. A book that jumps through time and takes readers through one wild weekend that can and will change everything for our protagonist.

Today I got to talk with attorney turned author Jerry Madden about his debut novel STEEL VALLEY: A LOVE STORY. We got into the emotion truths behind the fictional narrative and the love story at the core of it all.

An incredibly sweet story and a lovely interview

Today, after a mess of scheduling issues I FINALLY sat down with Tisha Marie Reichle-Aguilera about her debut novel BREAKING PATTERN. In which she goes right back to her roots in the rodeo and horse world but through a YA lens.

Today I got to talk with an absolute powerhouse of a young readers writer. Hena Khan has done it all, middle grade, picture books, anthologies, graphic novels... there is no telling what she'll come up with next! Today I got to discuss her newest middle grade novel DRAWING DEENA. It was originally pitched to be a spin-off of one of her other novels (listen to the ep to find out which one...) and has turned into a delightful book of it's own after severing those ties.

Hena is amazing and I highly recommend you check her and her works out!

Today I had the HONOR of talking with poet, academic, and now published author Dr. Tony Keith Jr. about his debut YA memoir in verse which he described as a YA version of his (award winning!!) dissertation!

This is unlike any book I have ever read before and it is a FEAT, mixing verse narrative with an immersive historical framework and truly a story from the heart!

Today I got to talk to a member of comic royalty and an emerging voice in the mystery world. From Fabian Nicieza co-creator of Deadpool (and so much more) comes a two part mystery series that is more about the investigator's journeys than the actual murders. Fabian is incredible and I had SO much fun while recording this interview with him. Hope you enjoy!

It has been almost a year since I first sat down with M.K. to discuss her first novel in this series and debut SEVEN FACELESS SAINTS. Now it's time to discuss the upcoming sequel DISCIPLES OF CHAOS which takes the main characters Roz and Damian on a whole new adventure but instead of a murder mystery this is much more a mystery of the theoretical as they discover the political gears of their society.

Dragons are back and in a big big way! Enter SO LET THEM BURN a YA Jamaican Inspired fantasy (with hints of Joan of Arc herself) about two sisters. One with the power of the gods and the other destined to be a footnote in her sister's story. And dragons. We can't forget the dragons. Kamilah Cole's debut novel is out now and I got the absolute pleasure to discuss with her!

Listen to learn about why dragons (and what Kamilah's favorite fantasy creature is (it's not dragons but they are a close second)) how spite is the great motivator and EVEN MORE.

Today on OTS I finally got to sit down with Sierra Isley to discuss her debut novel IN THE RING. I've been so excited about this since I learned about the book from another interview I did recently with I.S. Belle since also has a YA fight club book coming out!

And yes YA Fight Club. It is an amazing premise and incredible book and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Hi and welcome or welcome back to On The Shelf! Today I had the honor of talking once again with Kathrine Beutner, this time about her debut novel Alcestis a Greek Mythology retelling that came out way before the current rise of myths in publishing. We discuss a lot, publishing trends, research processes, and the importance of stories like these. And of course even more!

Listen to Part 1 of our interview Series about Killingly

Today on OTS is got to talk with indie author Erin Hall about her debut novel DEAR SYLVIA, LOVE JANE. The queer, historical, noir mystery in an ongoing series starring Detective Molly Malone.

Synopsis:

"Between pretending to be the secretary of her own detective agency and late-night visits to her favorite gay club Whiskers (where a secret knock grants entry), Molly’s life is lived in the shadows.

But when distraught housewife Sylvia seeks help from a detective, Molly’s professional and personal life begin to merge. 

When an up-and-coming politician reveals his plan to shutter gay clubs like Whiskers, Molly is concerned. 

Then when bodies start appearing, Molly needs to act fast to save her friends and loved ones–old and new–from being the next victims.

Because Molly isn’t the only one with a secret."

Hi and welcome or welcome back to On The Shelf! Today I had the honor of talking with Kathrine Beutner, her new novel Killingly, a dark academia book based on true events from the 1800s set at Mount Holyoke College! We discuss a lot, publishing trends, research processes, and the importance of stories like these. And of course even more!

From the author of Camp and Jack of Hearts (and other parts) Comes Emmett a queer, modern day retelling of Emma by Jane Austen. In this interview we talk about his big year of publications (3 books in 2023 alone!) what it takes to adapt a classic book, and how terrifying the joint matchmaking power of Emma and Emmett would be.

Today on OTS I got to talk with Naben Ruthnum about his debut YA novel THE GRIMMER. But that's not all, we talked about his varied career in both fiction and nonfiction, adult and now YA, as well as his work in both prose and for the screen!

I had a great time discussing and learning about his career and how these different types of writing are not as different as they may seem.

Hi everybody and welcome (or welcome back) to On The Shelf. Today I had the absolute pleasure of talking with author Laekan Zea Kemp about one of her YA books (An Appetite for Miracles) and one of her Middle Grade books (Omega Morales and the Curse of El Cucuy).

Enjoy!

Today I got to talk with the one and only J.B. Ryder! An up and coming young writer about his sci-fi dystopian debut novel THE FORGOTTEN COLONY

This week on OTS we welcome back Ryan Britt! Last time we discussed his book 'Phasers On Stun' which is alllll about the making and creation of the Star Trek Universe and this week we are covering all things Dune in his new book 'The Spice Must Flow'. We talk about the research that goes into making a book like this, how it's the first of it's kind, the endless web of contradictions that Dune and the creatives behind it contain and even more!

Welcome back to OTS! Today I have a VERY special interview to share today... a release day special for Fake Famous, Dana L. Davis' fifth novel! This book is all about Red, a farm girl from Iowa that after a joke video is pulled into the world of her celebrity look alike Zay Zay Waters and asks herself 'is the grass really greener on the other side?'

Ever wonder what happens when to you favorite kid detectives after they hang up their magnifying glass and grow up? Enter Charlotte Illes... a former kid detective pulled in for one last mystery. Today I, Honora, reported in live from outside, with a studio audience (my friend Anjali that wanted the chance to meet Katie) and had the absolute honor of talking to Katie Siegel about her debut novel, it's interesting origins as a Webseries and maybe, just maybe what's instore next for our Charlotte.

Today on OTS I got to talk with the one and only Brandy Colbert about her brand new novel The Blackwoods! This book follows a Black Hollywood dynasty through 3 POVs. Matriarch Blossom's journey through the 40s and beyond and two of her grandchildren's relationships with this fame.

Today I FINALLY got to talk with the one and only Mackenzie Reed about her debut novel The Rosewood Hunt (out 10/31/23!!) We discussed what goes into making a mystery as well as our mutual awe of the Inheritance Games Series and what is next for Mackenzie after The Rosewood Hunt releases! The Rosewood Hunt is described as Knives Out meet Outer Banks with a scavenger hunt/mystery for a missing fortune!

Today my good friend Kaitlyn and I got to talk to the one and only S.H. Cotugno about there webcomic turned graphic novel The Glass Scientists. The series, while incorporating elements from several classic monster stories, focuses on the story of Jekyll and Hyde. Set amongst beautiful artwork this magical version of Victorian London comes to life!

The Glass Scientists is out NOW!

Today on OTS I present you with part 1 of 2 of a double feature of spooky graphic novels to sink your teeth into this October. Today's episode is allllll about Brooms a graphic novel written by Jasmine Walls with art by Teo DuVall. I had the honor of talking with both author and artist along with leading the interview with a friend of mine Anjali.

Come back tomorrow for part two of our graphic novel double feature alllll about The Glass Scientists by S.H. Cotugno!

welcome back to on the shelf, as per usual I have a very special episode I can't wait to share today, an author interview but not only that... this is part 1 of a two part series I'm doing with I.S. Belle about her shared universe stories. Part 1 is all about Zombabe, the 'flagship' of her shared universe.

Today my friend Kaitlyn and I had the incredible opportunity to interview Kosoko Jackson about his upcoming YA novel 'The Forest Demands Its Due'.

Douglas finds himself in the midst of curse breaking, monsters, and the ability to remember those who have died despite no one else doing the same. This incredibly engaging novel is available from Quill Tree on October 3rd and is the perfect novel for spooky season!

Today for the first time in OTS history we interview a writing duo! Teen writers, Kylie and Liana have been friends for years and when they reconnected during the pandemic they decided to co-write a contemporary book and try to accurately capture the teen experience in a way they felt YA had not done.

Today my lovely friend Caroline and I got to talk with Zachary Sergi, author of Major Detours and the upcoming This Pact is Not Ours out from Tiny Ghost Press October 3rd.

We both read Major Detours for a book club so we were thrilled about the chance to sit down with Zach!

For the perfect blend of a eerie but surprisingly summery halloween book I highly recommend This Pact Is Not Ours!

Today, ahead of it's 8/22 release date, I got to sit down with Adalyn Grace about books 1 and 2 in her Belladonna trilogy. We discussed an array of topics from her interesting path to prose, to which character she'd most like to bring to a tea party to which important character almost didn't make it into the book!

This interview has a bit of it all!

Today my friend Kaitlyn and I had the absolute honor of reading and discussing A Study in Drowning with Ava Reid. It's a dark academia with romance and mystery and is so so good. A Study in Drowning follows Effy, an architecture student but wannabe literature student, as she gets chosen to design a house for the family of her literary idol and gets caught up in the mysteries of the house on the cliff.

Dive right into todays episode of On The Shelf where we dive into her unique spin on the vampire lore and how it got from Wattpad to the physical page!

Bella was on OTS last week to talk allll about book 1 Belle Morte or the eponymous series.

Want to Learn More??

Dive right into todays episode of On The Shelf where we dive into her unique spin on the vampire lore and how it got from Wattpad to the physical page!

Bella will be back next week to talk all thing Revelations (Belle Morte book 2) so stay tuned!

This concludes the 3 Part interview series with Tasha Madison and her Pen Thief book series!

stay tuned for part 3!

stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 of this interview series!

K.X. Song's debut novel 'An Echo In The City' comes out in a month! (June 23rd 2023) and you do not want to miss out on this book!

Here's a preview: 'Two star-crossed teenagers fall in love during the Hong Kong protests in this searing contemporary debut about coming of age in a time of change'

Don't you just want to know more??