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

Hey there! Of course, I’m Bex, and I spend most of time lost in my own daydreams. I write fantasy for both YA and young MG, because I’m all about escapism! I love both reading and writing fantasy because there’s nothing better than being whisked away to another world, off on a magical adventure. When I’m not busy with work, I enjoy daydreaming in my garden, daydreaming on walks, and deep dreaming when having a nap!

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I’ve always loved stories. My earliest memories are of me playing out stories with toys, I was forever making up new ones. But while I loved having books read to me – I was raised on Grimms’ Fairy Tales – I wasn’t a huge reader as a child. I’m a very slow reader even now, but as a kid it meant I struggled to ever get into a book. This meant it never occurred to me I might be a writer, even though the only school work I ever enjoyed was creative writing. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I considered that perhaps I could write down the endless stories taking up space in my head, and once I started, I knew I’d never stop.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

Ah the pressure! Ummm here goes!

• The first book you ever remember reading: Grimms’ Fairy Tales
• The one that made you want to become an author: Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

Your latest novel, Owl King, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

A love story between sisters.

What can readers expect?

Owl King is set in one of the Faery Realms, where faeries can shape-shift into birds. It is ruled by the cruel Owl King, who has had many brides, all of whom mysteriously disappear. When his eye falls on Lyla, her devoted sister, Ilsette, determines she’ll do whatever it takes to protect Lyla from a terrible fate. So while Lyla buys herself time by telling the Owl King stories every night, Ilsette sets out across the many realms in search of a powerful talisman that will save her sister. You can expect magic, mystery, friendship, curses and a touch of romance.

Where did the inspiration for Owl King come from?

It’s heavily inspired by the traditional fairytales I was raised on. The versions I was told as a child were far darker than the sanitised versions of today, and I really wanted to return to those dark fairytales of old. I’m also a Cornish girl, and I’m hugely inspired by the folklore there. The village I grew up in has its own legendary owl man – half owl, half man – who flies over the ancient church on the headland, with piercing red eyes. So he definitely takes some credit for the Owl King inspiration. And the Cornish scenery certainly makes imagining a faery forest an easy task!

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

I particularly enjoyed writing the short stories that are dotted throughout the book. It was a chance to create the faerytales which would exist within the faery world, which was a lot of fun. It’s also a different way to push forward the narrative, which I always love as a reader. I also loved that Ilsette travels to the realm featured in the first Faery Realms book, Nettle, which gave me an opportunity to revisit places and characters from before, through the eyes of a different character, which is always a lovely treat as an author.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I always face the same challenge with every book I write – and that is what I call the 30k wall. No matter how much I’m enjoying drafting, or how much of a plan I have in place for the plot, I always hit this point and question every life decision I’ve made. There’s only one way to overcome this particular hurdle and that’s to keep going. But it’s my least favourite part of the entire process!

What’s next for you?

I shall be returning to the Faery Realms! The third book in the series comes out next year and is called Rowan. This one is Rapunzel meets Dangerous Liaisons, and I’m having a lot of fun with it!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I recently read Forest of Hearts by M.A Kuzniar which I adored. It’s an absolutely perfect dark fairytale retelling. I also loved The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni, which is another book about the fae, inspired by Welsh mythology. I’m really looking forward to reading The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden, which comes out next year.

Will you be picking up Owl King? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Bex Hogan, Author of ‘Owl King’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you’re a UK bookworm like me, you probably stare mournfully at posts about BookExpo and BookCon, wishing you could go. But never fear! Here in the UK, we have YALC. Short for the Young Adult Literary Convention, YALC goes on at the same time as London Film and Comic Con and young adult authors come from all over the world to talk on panels, sign books, and lead workshops. Publishers have booths selling discounted books and even giving away ARCs! Sounds like a dream, right? This years dates are the 26th to the 28th of July.

2019 will be my first year going to YALC, and I couldn’t be more excited. If you were already planning on going or are just intrigued, read on for some of the authors going this July that you should be excited for.

These five are just a few of the awesome authors who will be at YALC! With a line-up featuring the likes of Juno Dawson, Malorie Blackman, and Derek Landy, you UK readers really don’t want to miss out on YALC 2019. You can find out more about the panels and other authors attending in our previous article!

Will you be attending YALC 2019? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Authors You Need To See At YALC 2019 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We believe every new author deserve an opportunity to get recognised in this community. If you agree with us and want to give more support for new authors and appreciation for their hard works, in today’s post, we’re going to feature a selection of debut books with under 100 ratings on Goodreads that we believe deserve more recognition in April 2019!

The Affairs of the Falcóns by Melissa Rivero (April 2)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The journey of the Falcón family who just moved from Peru to New York City in the 1990s. But being undocumented has significantly curtailed the family’s opportunities. While the husband dreams of returning to Peru, the wife determined to persevere in this new country. But how many sacrifices is she willing to make before admitting defeat and returning to Peru? And what lines is she willing to cross in order to protect her family?

Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson (April 2)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Beyond the Point is a heartfelt look at how our closest friends can become our fiercest battle buddies. After all, the greatest battles we fight rarely require a uniform.

The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling (April 2)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Martian and Gravity meets Annihilation in this thrilling debut story where a caver on a foreign planet finds herself on a terrifying psychological and emotional journey for survival.

Sabrina & Corina: Stories by Kali Fajardo-Anstine (April 2)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A haunting debut story collection on friendship, mothers and daughters, and the deep-rooted truths of our homelands, centered on Latinas of indigenous ancestry that shines a new light on the American West.

We Rule the Night by Claire Eliza Bartlett (April 2)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two girls use forbidden magic to fly and fight–for their country and for themselves–in this riveting debut that’s part Shadow and Bone, part Code Name Verity. We Rule the Night is a powerful story about sacrifice, complicated friendships, and survival despite impossible odds.

White Rose by Kip Wilson (April 2)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A gorgeous and timely novel based on the incredible story of Sophie Scholl, a young German college student who challenged the Nazi regime during World War II as part of The White Rose, a non-violent resistance group.

We Are Blood and Thunder by Kesia Lupo (April 4)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A powerful and terrifying storm cloud unites Lena, a young woman who runs for her life, convicted of being a mage and sentenced to death and Constance, an escapee of Duke Forest from years ago before her powers were discovered and now she’s determined to get back in. Together, they hold the key to destroying the spell.

Every Moment After by Joseph Moldover (April 9)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Best friends Matt and Cole grapple with their changing relationships during the summer after high school in this impactful, evocative story about growing up and moving on from a traumatic past.

In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton (April 9)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A powerful story of love, identity, and the price of fitting in or speaking out centers around Ruth Robb and her family transplant themselves in the summer of 1958 from New York City to Atlanta, after her father’s death. In her new hometown, Ruth quickly figures out she can be Jewish or she can be popular, but she can’t be both. Eager to fit in with the blond girls in the “pastel posse,” Ruth decides to hide her religion. Before she knows it, she is falling for the handsome and charming Davis and sipping Cokes with him and his friends at the all-white, all-Christian Club.

Soon the Light Will Be Perfect by Dave Patterson (April 9)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Set over the course of one propulsive summer, Soon the Light Will be Perfect chronicles the journey of a young man on the cusp of adulthood, a town battered by poverty, and a family at a breaking point. In spare, fiercely honest prose, Dave Patterson captures what it feels like to be gloriously, violently alive at a moment of political, social, and familial instability.

The Dream Peddler by Martine Fournier Watson (April 9)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A page-turning debut novel about a traveling salesman who arrives to sell dreams to a town rocked by a child’s disappearance–both a thoughtful mediation on grief and a magical exploration of our innermost desires.

The Risk of Us by Rachel Howard (April 9)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A poignant, dazzling debut novel about a woman who longs to be a mother and the captivating yet troubled child she and her husband take in. It explores the inevitable tests children bring to a marriage, the uncertainties of family life, and the ways true empathy obliterates our defenses.

Earth to Charlie by Justin Olson (April 16)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A high school outcast, Charlie, spends his life hoping to be abducted by aliens in this funny, quirky novel about finding your footing in a world that sometimes feels like Mars. But that’s before he meets the popular and easy-going Seth, who shows him what real friendship is all about. And now Charlie has to make a decision: should he stay or should he go?

Viper (Isles of Storm and Sorrow #1) by Bex Hogan (April 18)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A story of Marianne, who has been training to be the Viper for her entire life – to serve and protect the King and the citizens of The Twelve Isles – but to become the Viper and protect the islands she loves she must find the strength to defeat her father.

Emily Eternal by M.G. Wheaton (April 23)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Meet Emily – she can solve advanced mathematical problems, unlock the mind’s deepest secrets and even fix your truck’s air con. And she’s an artificial consciousness who designed in a lab to help humans process trauma, which is particularly helpful when the sun begins to die 5 billion years before scientists agreed it was supposed to. But unfortunately, she can’t restart the Sun.

The Abolitionist’s Daughter by Diane C. McPhail (April 30)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An emotional debut novel that explores a little-known aspect of Civil War history—Southern Abolitionists—and the timeless struggle to do right even amidst bitter conflict.

When I Was Summer by J.B. Howard (April 30)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A story about unrequited love, rock ’n’ roll, and what you find when you go searching for yourself, centers around sixteen-year-old Nora Wakelin, who has always felt like an outsider in her own family. Being adapted, now Nora is in a mission to find her biological mother. So she sets out to track them each down, one by one, under the pretense of a statewide tour with her rock band, Blue Miles. Three cities, three gigs, three possible birth mothers—it should be easy. But is it?

Will you be checking out any of these debut book releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 17 April Debut Book Releases To Check Out appeared first on The Nerd Daily.