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Side characters may not have "main character energy," but that doesn't mean they aren't valuable to the story's plot, and half-heartedly creating a secondary character can make readers tune out almost as much as an unlikeable central character. That's because side characters are more than convenient best friends or mentors to the story's protagonist. They act as foils to highlight the MC's flaws and positive attributes, and it's the supporting character that oftentimes makes readers fall for the story in the first place, bringing a needed comedic relief in moments of tragedy, adding depth to the plotline, or revealing the main character for who they really are. To reveal just how much power a well-written side character can bring to a story, we asked Randee Dawn, author of WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM, to share who her favorite side character is. Featured: Randee Dawn, author of WE INTERRUPT THE PROGRAM | Solaris Nova Wunderkind PR #RandeeDawn #WeInterruptThisProgram #Tuneiverse #AuthorInterview #CozyMystery #PublishingInsights #ReaderInsights

[TW: Mental Health, Suicide, Depression, Self-Harm, Anxiety, Racism] The teenage years can already be a challenging time for many kids as they begin to understand their identities and place in society. But for those struggling with their mental health, that transition can be made even harder, especially if they don't have a support system at home or in the books they turn to. And for several marginalized communities, that representation is needed more than ever in literature. Mental health is already a stigmatized topic in today's society, but for many religious communities and cultures, those conversations are even more discouraged due to differences in beliefs and understandings of life and death, forcing children and young adults to keep their emotions in. That's what makes mental health representation in literature so important, not only for teens, but also for those in marginalized communities who feel like they don't have ways to release their feelings. To dive into how mental health representation in YA stories is evolving, we invited five AAPI YA authors to sit down for a roundtable-style interview to discuss the importance of breaking down stigmas around mental health, how their books combat stereotypes around the AAPI community, and how writing their books impacted them on a personal level. Click through our carousel to see a few highlights, then visit the link below to read the full interview! https://lnkd.in/e9wJnf6h Featured: - Emily X.R. Pan, author of THE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Little, Brown and Company) - Kelly Murashige, author of THE LOST SOULS OF BENZAITEN | Soho Teen (Soho Press) - Joey (Deb) Lee, author of IN LIMBO | First Second (Macmillan) - Jyoti Chand, author of FITTING INDIAN | HarperAlley (HarperCollins Publishers) - Joanna Ho, author of THE SILENCE THAT BINDS US | HarperTeen (HarperCollins Publishers) #AuthorInterview #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #AAPIAuthors #AAPIHeritageMonth #YoungAdultBooks

When we think of exciting, action-packed narratives, we're likely to think of a handful of children's books. But for readers who feel that they fall far too outside of the age range for children's literature, novels featuring protagonists in older age groups on similar adventures are an untapped market for authors and publishers. While certain authors, like James Patterson and Dan Brown, are often associated with an older reader population, their novels typically star characters in their mid-30s to 50s and are often more unrealistic in terms of the day-to-day life of older adults. So, in a recent edition of our Three to Read series, we've curated a list of three books featuring characters in their golden years who demonstrate that age is just a number and life can still be an adventure, even if it looks a little bit different. This list is perfect for readers looking for more age-appropriate novels, who want to show support for more older protagonist-centric stories, or just want a reminder that getting older doesn't mean you have to slow down. Click through the carousel to see our picks, then visit the link below to learn more! https://lnkd.in/eKRzsQ9c Featured: - THE MURDER AT WORLD'S END by Ross Montgomery | Publisher: William Morrow (HarperCollins Publishers) - VILLA COCO by Andrew Sean Greer | Publisher: Doubleday (Random House Publishing Group / Penguin Random House) - SWITZY by Emma Cline | Publisher: Random House Publishing Group (Penguin Random House) #BookRecommendations #OlderProtagonists #AdultBooks #PublishingInsights #ReaderInsights #BookCommunity #Readers

We're excited to be partnering with Wunderkind PR to give FIVE lucky readers the chance to win a copy of Martha Conway's latest novel, WE MEET APART! In what we call a "profound take on the grieving process...," WE MEET APART follows two sisters in Ireland during World War II who are worlds apart, one in the 20th-century Ireland we know and the other in a German-occupied Ireland, who can only meet for one hour every day in a secluded manor when the veil between their realities thins. The giveaway runs until June 11th! Click the link below to enter! https://lnkd.in/ekHCUzdp #MarthaConway #Giveaway #BookCommunity #Readers #HistoricalFiction

When we want to learn about identities and cultures outside of our own, literature is often where we turn. And with the multitude of diverse voices constantly refreshing the literary canon, there's a continuous supply of stories to ensure everyone can have their voices heard. And now more than ever, with legislation threatening a nationwide book ban and publishers reportedly slowing their acquisition of queer books because of book bans, narratives that empower and reaffirm queer identities, especially those seen as invisible to the LGBTQIA+ community, are necessities on bookshelves. And two authors who are brining much needed representation of the aromantic spectrum to literature are Madeline Dyer and Rosiee Thor, editors of the recently released anthology BEING ARO, which features 12 stories depicting aromanticism in its many forms and how we can find love and connection without romance. But more than shining a light on aromanticism, the vibrant and diverse stories in BEING ARO challenge the assumption that HEAs have to be romantic rides off into the sunset and demonstrate how fulfilling narratives can be when they focus on character development, platonic relationships, and emotional connection. To celebrate the release of BEING ARO, we were able to sit down with Madeline and Rosiee to dive into the current state of AroAce rep in publishing, the inclusion of robots as ace characters, and what's next in the BEING ACE series! Click through our carousel to see a few highlights, then visit the link below to read the full interview! https://lnkd.in/eZrguc_Z Featured: Madeline Dye & Rosiee Thor, editors of BEING ARO: A COLLECTION OF AROMANTIC FICTION ABOUT LOVE, CONNECTION, AND EMPOWERMENT | Page Street YA #AuthorInterview #MadelineDyer #RosieeThor #Aromantic #AroAceRepresentation #BeingAro #Anthology

Whether it’s because they created some of our favorite characters or simply gave us a story that helped us feel seen, meeting the creators behind the books that changed our lives can be an affirming moment. And for authors, those interactions can be just as important to them. Not just because they sold a few books and earned a little revenue, but because many of them write from their own experiences. Meeting others who can relate to their stories shows literature in action, and it’s an important reminder that writing isn’t a siloed experience. To understand what those connections mean to writers, we asked rose robbins, author and illustrator of TALKING IS NOT MY THING, a picture book that follows a young nonspeaking autistic girl and her brother, to share her favorite kind of fan interactions. Featured: Rose Robbins, author and illustrator of TALKING IS NOT MY THING | Scallywag Press #RoseRobbins #TalkingisNotMyThing #AuthorInterview #AutismRepresentation #ChildrensLiterature

In the most recent episode of our DON’T WORRY, NO ONE’S LISTENING podcast, Nicole Galland, author of BOY: A NOVEL and THE RISE AND FALL OF D.O.D.O, joined host Edward Savio to discuss the life of a writer and the connections between novel and screenwriting. In this clip, Nicole shares how her background in theatre plays a role in how she drafts her book. You can watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eKGXXUb9 The DON'T WORRY, NO ONE'S LISTENING podcast guarantees to blend candid conversation and honest insight with humor and wicked mischief to give listeners a behind-the-scenes look into the creative processes of some of their favorite writers. Guest: Nicole Galland, author of BOY: A NOVEL and the NY Times Best-selling THE RISE AND FALL OF D.O.D.O. #NicoleGalland #PublishingInsights #WritingInsights #TheRiseandFallofDODO #HistoricalFiction #WritingProcess

"I never came across many Filipino American stories for teenagers as I grew up or as I taught, so I wanted to put more into the world. As for advice... know your own story and lean into that and lean into all the unanswered questions you still have about yourself." - Randy Ribay Everyone has the ability to write a book, but it's knowing why you want to write that helps your book stand out to agents and editors. For some authors, the reason is as simple as being in love with words and wanting to bring their readers the same joy they felt when they found a book they love. But for others, like Randy Ribay, it's to help fill the gaps in representation and give underrepresented voices the chance to speak. Since Randy’s breakthrough novel in 2019, his work has featured several Filipino main characters in a variety of circumstances, showing how diversity not only refers to race and ethnicity but also the forces that shape them. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Randy to dive into his forthcoming release, NEST OF TONGUES, a YA novel that follows two siblings and manananggal, vampires from Filipino folklore, as they try to escape a monster hunter targeting their people. In our discussion, we dive into how Randy stays true to Filipino culture within the demands of storytelling, why he wanted to flip the script on typical monster hunter stories, and his research process for his books. Click through our carousel to see a few highlights, then visit the link below to read the full interview! https://lnkd.in/epwwvirJ Featured: Randy Ribay, author of NEST OF TONGUES | Random House Books for Young Readers (Random House Publishing Group / Penguin Random House) #RandyRibay #NestofTongues #AuthorInterview #PublishingInsights #ReaderInsights

Like a roller coaster, life is an up-and-down experience full of twists, turns, and unexpected stops that can leave us lost and confused. But with the right advice, finding your way back on track can be possible. And choosing the way that best works for you is vital in helping you move forward. In the literary world, while plenty of fiction novels already exist that depict characters navigating struggles with their mental health and simply learning how to exist again, nonfiction can provide real-world insight from those who have lived experience or experts in science and psychology who are eager to share their knowledge with readers so they can effectively manage their current life situation. So, for our latest roundup, we've found 11 motivational nonfiction books that offer valuable lessons for learning not just how to survive, but live. https://lnkd.in/eKG7Rjnp Featured: - THE FOUR STAGES OF LIVING by Christine Fruehwirth | Greenleaf Book Group - THE UNTEATHERED SOUL by Michael A. Singer | New Harbinger Publications - QUIET by Susan Cain | Crown Publishing - THE MOUNTAIN IS YOU by Brianna Wiest | Business Books - 101 ESSAYS THAT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK by Brianna Wiest | Thought Catalog Books - THE GIFTS OF IMPERFECTION by Brené Brown | Hazelden Publishing - BEYOND ANXIETY by Martha Beck | The Open Field - CONSIDER THIS by Nedra Glover Tawwab | Tarcher (Penguin Random House) - I AM HERE NOW by The Mindfulness Project | Tarcher (Penguin Random House) - THE COMFORT BOOK by Matt Haig | Penguin Life (Penguin Random House) - HAPPY NOT PERFECT by Poppy Jamie | Rodale Books (Random House Publishing Group) #SelfHelpBooks #MentalHeathAwarenessMonth #MentalHealth #BookRecommendations #PublishingIndustryInsights #ReaderInsights

"There’s a lot to unpack around seeing yourself within a monster, especially since queerness is often reached for by artists and filmmakers as a shorthand for deviancy, sickness, or immorality. There are whole wings of queer theory around monstrosity for that reason. But there’s something empowering about it as well, since monsters often build their own lives and societies on the margins of general culture." - S.T. Gibson Stories of monsters have long existed in folklore and classic literature, such as FRANKENSTEIN, THE METAMORPHOSIS, and DRACULA. But often, the metaphor of the monster was used to describe something as other, mainly those who were queer, disabled, and of another race or ethnicity, who appeared to be non-human. But as we begin to reevaluate these stories and shed light on the people who were ostracized by the authors' depictions, contemporary writers are transforming our notions of monsters into something that is not to be feared, but a lens to understand what makes us human. To investigate how modern storytellers are changing the way we interpret these stories, we recently sat down with S.T. Gibson, whose novel, A DOWRY OF BLOOD, reimagines the tale of Dracula and his three brides through a queer lens. In our interview, we dive into how the portrayal of vampires has evolved, why people can see themselves reflected in tales of monsters, and what drew her to writing vampire fiction. Click through our carousel to see a few highlights, then visit the link below to read the full interview! https://lnkd.in/egrTMibP Featured: S. T. Gibson, author of A DOWRY OF BLOOD | Orbit Books (Hachette Book Group) #STGibson #ADowryofBlood #WorldDraculaDay #Dracula #PublishingInsights #ReaderInsights