Indies Introduce Interview

Kelly Jones is the author of Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, a Spring 2015 Indies Introduce debut title for middle-grade readers. Tegan Tigani of Queen Anne Book Company said this Summer Kids’ Indie Next List pick was “sweet and funny, with a touch of magic and tons of chickens!”

Leslie Parry is the author of Church of Marvels (Ecco), a Spring 2015 Indies Introduce debut novel for adults. “Church of Marvels is in the same realm as The Night Circus and you will not be disappointed whatsoever with this fabulous work of debut fiction,” said Annie Philbrick of Bank Square Books.

Sabaa Tahir is the author of An Ember in the Ashes, a Spring 2015 Indies Introduce title for young adults. “The world-making here is astounding and will consume your every thought until the very last page — and even then you won’t want to let go,” said Sarah Chen of Mysterious Galaxy.

Robin Stevens is the author of the Spring 2015 Indies Introduce debut novel for middle grade readers Murder Is Bad Manners. “I loved this book for its utterly relatable characters, its enticing narrative voice, and pitch-perfect representation of an all-girls school social dynamic,” said Maggie Tokuda-Hall, formerly of Books Inc.

Lance Rubin is the author of Denton Little’s Deathdate, a Spring 2015 Indies Introduce novel for young adults. Cristin Stickles of McNally Jackson Books called the debut “a truly original and fantastic conceit.”

Tommy Wallach is the author of We All Looked Up, a Spring 2015 Indies Introduce debut young adult novel. The story is “a twist on the apocalyptic novel,” said Sarah Chen of Mysterious Galaxy, and filled with “gorgeous writing that evokes emotion and depth.”

Nina MacLaughlin is the author of the Spring 2015 Indies Introduce adult nonfiction title Hammer Head: The Making of a Carpenter, which Carol Schneck Varner of Schuler Books & Music called “an absolutely fascinating memoir.”

John Renehan is the author of the Spring 2015 Indies Introduce debut adult fiction selection The Valley, which Carol Schneck Varner of Schuler Books & Music called “a powerful, fast-paced page-turner of a war novel.”

David Arnold is the author of the Winter/Spring 2015 Indies Introduce New Voices title Mosquitoland. Tegan Tigani of Queen Anne Book Company said Mosquitoland “provides laughs, empathy, and quote-worthy passages. I loved it!”

Victoria Aveyard is the author of Red Queen, the first book in a new trilogy and a Winter/Spring 2015 Indies Introduce New Voices selection. Jill Hendrix of Fiction Addiction noted, “Red Queen is an unbelievable debut YA novel that will leave you waiting desperately for the next entry in the series.”

Colin Barrett is the author of the short story collection Young Skins, a Winter/Spring 2015 Indies Introduce Debut Authors selection. Seth Marko, formerly of UC San Diego Bookstore, called Young Skins “a blazing, outstanding debut by a very talented young writer who I can’t wait to see more from.”

Rafia Zakaria is the author of The Upstairs Wife: An Intimate History of Pakistan, a Winter/Spring 2015 Indies Introduce Debut Authors selection that Amanda Bullock of Housing Works Bookstore Café said “reveals the strength of Pakistani women” by weaving together national and family histories.

Cecilia Ekbäck is the author of Wolf Winter, a Winter/Spring 2015 Indies Introduce Debut Authors selection. “Ekbäck’s intriguing tale of Sweden’s Lapland in 1717 gives insight into the land and people of the far north and is also hard to let go,” said Barbara Theroux of Fact & Fiction.

Dan Gemeinhart is the author of The Honest Truth, a Winter/Spring 2015 Indies Introduce New Voices selection for children. Jill Hendrix of Fiction Addiction called The Honest Truth “a touching read” about a young boy in need of a miracle.

Emma Hooper is the author of Etta and Otto and Russell and James, a Winter/Spring 2015 Indies Introduce selection for adults that Cathy Langer of Tattered Cover Book Store called, “Wry and quirky, a little bit magical and perfectly pitched... A truly marvelous debut.”