I was invited to do a spotlight on an author who would be attending the Ontario Teen Book Fest and I was so so so happy that my author was Robin Benway! I’m so in love with her books and I’ve been wanting to get her on the blog for a while now. But before we get to all of her awesomeness, let’s check out the event!
Ontario Teen Book Fest is absolutely free and tickets are not necessary. It’s being held at Colony High School 3850 E. Riverside Drive, Ontario, CA 91761. The event is being sponsored by Mrs. Nelson’s and additional info can be found at the event website.
And now for Robin! Here’s some info on her newest book, Going Rogue.
Being permanently based in a local New York City high school as an undercover operative has its moments, good and bad, for 16-year-old safecracker Maggie Silver.
Pros: More quality time with her former mark-turned-boyfriend Jesse Oliver and insanely cool best friend, Roux.
Getting to spend quality time with her semi-retired and international spy honorary uncle, Angelo.Cons: High school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.
But when Maggie’s parents are falsely accused of stealing priceless gold coins, Maggie uses her safecracking skills to try and clear their names.
Too bad it only serves to put her and everyone she loves in danger. Maggie and her “new team” flee to Paris where they must come up with a plan to defeat their former allies.
Sounds amazing, right? It totally is. {These two books are some of my favorites and if you haven’t read them, you’re missing out.}
1. Where did the idea for Also Known As and Going Rogue come from?
I first got the idea to write about a safecracker when I locked myself out of my storage unit in my apartment building! I had a Master Lock and I had to learn how to crack it. Once I did that, I was like, “I want to write about people who do this all the time!”
2. I know why I love Maggie, Roux and Jesse Oliver. Why do you love them and why should we root for them?
I love them because they’re flawed, loyal, and they sort of fill in the holes for one another. Roux comes from two very neglectful parents while Jesse’s parents are getting divorced, and Maggie’s tight bond with her family is something that they both need. For Maggie, she’s been raised in very isolating conditions, and Jesse and Roux help her discover how important and necessary friendship is. The three of them are like a triangle: they don’t work if one person is missing.
3. What was the weirdest thing you had to Google while doing research?
For “Going Rogue” I ended up researching the underground tunnels of Paris, known as the Catacombs. It turns out that there’s a group of artists, engineers, botanists, mapmakers, etc. that use the tunnels to break into and repair & refurbish the more run-down and lesser-known parts of Paris. They even repaired the clock at the Panthéon! I was so fascinated by this and it ended up becoming a large plot point in the book.
4. Was there any scene that had to be cut that you wish hadn’t been?
There was a scene in “Going Rogue” where Maggie makes some new friends in Paris and they show her how they break into the Panthéon. I really loved it, but unfortunately it slowed down the action sequences, so it got chopped.
5. Describe the series in 5 words.
Mysterious, romantic, humorous, jet-setting (that’s one word!), and risky.
Speed [ish] round:
1. You get the call/email/letter that says you’re being published for the first time. What happens next?
Well, if you’re me, you happen to be standing Whole Foods, buying groceries, and you get so overwhelmed that you leave your basket right in the middle of the produce section and walk outside to sit on the curb. (True story.)
2. What 3 things would you take with you to a desert island?
Sunscreen, a fully-loaded luxury yacht, and someone to captain the yacht so I can get back home.
3. You can only read one book for the rest of your life. What is it?
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. My favorite book as a kid.
4. What is one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you?
That it’s a marathon, not a 5K, and there’s no finish line. Just put your head down and work.
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I’m the author of “Audrey, Wait!”, “The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June”, and the AKA series. My latest book “Emmy & Oliver” will be released on Summer 2015. I live in Los Angeles with my extremely stubborn shih tzu, Hudson. I like cooking, puppies, and coffee, but not in that order.
We should be friends.
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Huge thanks to Robin for taking the time! Make sure you’re checking out her blog, following her on Twitter, liking her Facebook page and adding all of her books to your Goodreads TBR shelf.
If you’ve gotten to the end of this massive post, you’re being rewarded with a giveaway!
And don’t forget to check out the other blogs for more author interviews!
Blog Tour Schedule
May 2nd: Spotlight on Jessica Brody — What A Nerd Girl Says
May 3rd: Spotlight on Elana K. Arnold — Nite Lite Book Reviews
May 4th: Spotlight on Catherine Linka – Fangirl Feeels
May 5th: Spotlight on Livia Blackburne — The Thousand Lives
May 6th: Spotlight on Lauren Kate — She Reads She Blogs
May 7th: Spotlight on Katie Alender — Movies, Shows and Books
May 8th: Spotlight on Lauren Miller — A Bookish Escape
May 9th: Spotlight on Sarah Skilton — Read Now Sleep Later
May 10th: Spotlight on Lissa Price — Recently Acquired Obsessions
May 11th: Spotlight on Jessi Kirby — What A Nerd Girl Says
May 12th: Spotlight on Katherine Ewell — iFandoms Collide
May 13th: Spotlight on Mary Pearson — The Windy Pages
May 14th: Spotlight on John Corey Whaley — Read Now Sleep Later
May 15th: Spotlight on Robin Benway — Adventures of a Book Junkie
May 16th: Spotlight on Ava Dellaira — Fangirl Feeels
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