Not long after TINY PRETTY THINGS went into copyedits, Dhonielle and I chatted about reviews. We know the drill: Do not engage. And that was the plan from the start. But in our heads, we couldn’t help but compose our own worst review. It would say things like: “These girls are unlikable.” “This book is too long.” Or maybe: “I figured out who did it.” Whatever. Then we got by (relatively)…
When we were drafting TINY PRETTY THINGS, we knew we were writing a book that would tackle a lot of issues: bullying, eating disorders, racism, homophobia, depression. And yes, there would be some romance. Which, of course, meant asking the big question. Do we want sex on the page? Let’s make one thing absolutely clear: teens have sex. Not all of them, but a lot of them. So it’s a…
If you travel in literary circles, you’ve definitely heard of Adam Silvera, who is the most exemplary of lit citizens. At some point, he’s been a bookseller, abook marketer, a book reviewer and definitely an all around book pusher. This year, he also fulfilled his dream of becoming an author — at the tender age of 25. And what a way to start. Adam’s debut MORE HAPPY THAN NOT, earned not one but…
One of my favorite parts of being a writer — and running CAKE Literary — is brainstorming. Finding a kernel of truth (or fantasy), a what if, and spinning it off into a million directions until I have something real and solid, something that can actually become a story. Like some of the other Debs, I have a folder full of story starters — ideas, character names, settings, things I…
Two weeks now, my Deb Ball post has been late. And I blame one thing: Overwhelmed Author Syndrome. Last week, TINY PRETTY THINGS officially hit bookshelves. It was also the week of Teen Author Carnival, Dhonielle’s birthday, BEA, and a big #WeNeedDiverseBooks book signing at the fabulous La Casa Azul. Plus, Kavya’s school picnic, and Navdeep and I celebrated our tenth Vegas wedding anniversary (by going to see Wicked!). It was…
Many months ago, I finally had the opportunity — after reading this blog for nearly six years — to apply to be a Deb myself. I was excited beyond belief. I love this community — the commiseration and the camaraderie, the fun and the friendships. And it’s been everything I imagined it to be. I’ve made friends for life hear, and it’s been a treasure to share this journey with Amy,…
Dhonielle and I have been working for this moment for nearly four years now — through countless drafts, a couple of agents, four editors, and endless edits. Also: new jobs, new apartments, a hurricane, a baby, and a hundred other little life events. So we should be relishing every moment right of launch week, right? But it doesn’t feel real. In fact, I still haven’t actually gotten to walk into…
For as long as I can remember, people have slaughtered my name. Not just Charaipotra, but Sona. Four simple letters. Rhymes with Mona. For some reason, everyone insists on seeing that i, even though it just doesn’t exist. My dad was the one who picked my name. He thought it was “an international name.” But it’s actually really specifically Indian. It means gold in Hindi and Punjabi, and is considered a term…
I first met the awesome RENEE AHDIEH last year at BEA, and I liked her even before I knew what her amazing book, THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, was about. She’s a straight-shooting Southern belle with a strong penchant for food and books. What’s not to love? And her book? Well, trust me, you definitely want to read this gorgeous, moody, complicated and swoonworthy spin on THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. It’ll be one…
This week at the Deb Ball, we’re talking about drafts. And as much as I’d like to say I have a methodology, it’s really just a mess. As Deb Ball reader Anthony mentioned a few days ago in the comments, you don’t really learn to write a novel. You just learn to write the novel you’re working on now. At least that’s how it goes for me. Oh, don’t get me wrong. Ever…
