We chat with author Alex Richards about her latest release, When We Were Strangers! Releasing on July 27th 2021, Alex talks about the challenges she faced, writing, book recommendations, and so much more! PLUS we have an excerpt from the first chapter for you to enjoy at the end of the interview!

Hi, Alex! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! Thanks for having me on your blog. I write contemporary YA. I gravitate toward heavier topics but for my own sanity, I balance it out with humor and a little romance. In other words, I want my readers to have all the feels! I live in Brooklyn with my family, and grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I tend to set all my fictional stories.

How has the first half of 2021 been for you?

Whooo…that’s a tough question! It has been very up and down. Like, we finally made it through the insanity of 2020, and I was really hoping to wake up in 2021 with everything magically better. Okay not really … but it would have been nice! I have had a few bursts of creativity, but I’ve also had some setbacks. Mostly, I’m really excited for WHEN WE WERE STRANGERS to come out—I’m ready to celebrate!

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

I loved Maurice Sendak books as a kid (not sure they’re the first ones I ever read, but that’s my answer!). WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE and OUTSIDE OVER THERE are two of my favorites. Sendak told such beautiful, off-kilter stories about family, and they have always stuck with me. The book that made me want to become an author … am I allowed to say The Baby-Sitters Club?! I was a huge fan, and would describe myself astrologically as a Mary Anne with a Claudia rising. And a book that I can’t stop thinking about (eek, there are so many) would probably be DIG by A.S. King. It’s just really well written and thought provoking and unique. Now I want to read all her books!

When did you first discover your love for writing?

When I was about 10, I got super into writing YA novels. I have spiral notebooks full of them — all ridiculous! I’d write about things I knew nothing about – supermodels, camp counsellors (a lot of the plotlines loosely followed threads from Saved By The Bell and Bevery Hills 90210, hah!). I don’t always love coming up with story ideas, but I’ve definitely always loved writing.

Your new novel, When We Were Strangers, is out July 27^th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Preconceptions won’t solve your problems.

What can readers expect?

A book that will make you cry! But also laugh. And maybe swoon a little. Like I said, I love exploring emotionally heavy topics, but it’s equally important to weave in some levity (I’m a sucker for salty, sassy friends, and don’t-know-they’re-adorable boys).

What was the inspiration behind When We Were Strangers?

Infidelity, cheating, divorce—these things happen all the time, and teens bear the brunt in a harsh and unfair way. I initially had this idea with the intention of having the mom obsess over and follow Bree (the new girlfriend), but then realized there wasn’t enough of a storyline for my teen protagonist. YA is so much about heartbreak, I wanted to explore a different side of that pain, and a different resolution. So, I switched it up. I stuck with the topic but tried to find a unique, fresh angle to tackle it from.

Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?

Challenges?! Oh yeah. Getting through these pandemic-y times has been a huge, emotional struggle. Though I was able to write the first (and second, and probably third!) draft of this book before COVID-19, I was knee-deep in revisions and copyedits while also stuck at home helping my kids through remote learning. It was mentally exhausting. I could easily have curled up in my shell, watching Schitt’s Creek marathons (okay, I definitely did that too), but I am grateful that I had deadlines to adhere to. Knowing that people were expecting results helped draw the creativity out of me.

Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I love Juana! I have always really enjoyed writing the best friend characters, but she was probably my favorite. Best friends get to be the comic relief, the security blanket, and the Magic 8-Ball. Every scene Juana and Evie were together felt like it wrote itself, and I loved the support, guidance, and occasional eye-rolls she showed Evie throughout this wild adventure.

What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?

Best: read constantly! And in different genres (I’m not great at this, my TBR is usually stocked with YA, but it is good advice and will help you become a better writer!)

Worst: write what you know. I feel like this advice crippled me when I was younger. I started writing as a pre-teen, but nothing about my life was “story-worthy” and I thought that meant I wasn’t allowed to write anything. Don’t let your own life experiences box you in.

What’s next for you?

It’s been a very tough year and, honestly, I haven’t gotten very much done. But, I feel like I’ve finally turned a corner on a new project! I am very excited about the contemporary YA book I’m working on. Keep an eye out for more angst, grief, humor, and crushes!

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

So many! I’m loving I KILLED ZOE SPANOS by Kit Frick – it’s the perfect, twisty summer thriller. Oh, speaking of summer thrillers: WHERE SECRETS LIE by Eva. V. Gibson was wonderful. I loved THE HOW AND THE WHY by Cynthia Hand (recommended to me by someone who had just finished WHEN WE WERE STRANGERS, and I can see why!). Also WE CAN BE HEROES by Kyrie McCauley, which comes out this fall, is incredible. And some favorites from last year: THE LUCKY ONES by Liz Lawson, AS MANY NOWS AS I CAN GET by Shana Youngdahl, and A BREATH TOO LATE by Rocky Callan.

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Will you be picking up When We Were Strangers? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Alex Richards, Author of ‘When We Were Strangers’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover just a few books releasing this month and tell us in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any of them!

The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Lush and chilling, with razor-sharp edges and an iron core of hope, this bewitching, powerhouse novel of two girls fighting back against the violence the world visits on them will stun and enchant readers.

Curses by Lish McBride
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Curses is a quirky and delightfully fun gender swapped retelling of Beauty and the Beast that invites readers to explore what a fairy tale can look like outside of conventional gender roles.

Small Favors by Erin A. Craig
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows comes a mesmerizing and chilling novel that’s The Village meets Needful Things about what lurks in the shadows of the people you think you know.

The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Get Out meets Holly Jackson in this YA social thriller where survival is not a guarantee.

The Monster of Her Age by Danielle Binks
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In a neo-Gothic mansion in a city at the end of the world, Ellie finds there’s room enough for art, family, forgiveness and love. A coming-of-age story about embracing the things that scare us from the author of The Year the Maps Changed.

When We Were Strangers by Alex Richards
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of Accidental comes a gripping story about a teen grieving her father’s sudden death–and grappling with the shocking secrets he left behind.

Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

To All the Boys I Loved Before meets World of Dance in this delectable love story that combines food, dance, and a hint of drama to cook up the perfect romance.

Flash Fire by T.J. Klune
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Flash Fire is the explosive sequel to The Extraordinaries by USA Today bestselling author TJ Klune!

You and Me at the End of the World by Brianna Bourne
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An addictive, smart, and swoony love story, this high-concept YA romance follows two teenagers as they discover that they are the last people left on Earth. It’s perfect for fans of John Green, Andrew Smith, Stephanie Perkins, A. S. King, Gayle Forman, and Adam Silvera.

What We Devour by Linsey Miller
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The eat-the-rich, deliciously dark fantasy you’ve been waiting for. A girl with the power of the banished gods must bind herself to a wicked Prince to save her crumbling world, as the poor are sacrificed to save the rich. It’s time for the wealthy to be devoured…

They’ll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From rising star Jessica Goodman, author of They Wish They Were Us, comes a new fast-paced thriller about two sisters vying for the top spot on their cross-country team—until a teammate’s disappearance throws their lives off course.  

Summer in the City of Roses by Michelle Ruiz Keil
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Inspired by the Greek myth of Iphigenia and the Grimm fairy tale “Brother and Sister,” Michelle Ruiz Keil’s second novel follows two siblings torn apart and struggling to find each other in early ’90s Portland.

What July YA releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post July 2021 YA Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.