Interview With Mary Weber // Reclaiming Shilo Snow BLOG TOUR

   So for those of you who don't already know - Reclaiming Shilo Snow released yesterday!

   I had the prilege of snagging an ARC for this lovely book (and I adored it), and now I have the honor of interviewing the equally lovely author today as part of the FFBC blog tour for Reclaiming Shilo Snow!

   Let's get right to it, y'all. This is going to be fun. 

Trapped on the ice-planet of Delon, gamer girl Sofi and Ambassador Miguel have discovered that nothing is what it seems, including their friends. On a quest to rescue her brother, Shilo, a boy everyone believes is dead, they must now escape and warn Earth of Delon’s designs on humanity. Except the more they unearth of the planet and Sofi’s past, the more they feel themselves unraveling, as each new revelation has Sofi questioning the very existence of reality.


Meanwhile, back on Earth, Sofi’s mom, Inola, is battling a different kind of unraveling: a political one that could cost lives, positions, and a barely-rebuilt society, should they discover the deal made with the Delonese.

But there’s a secret deeper than all that. One locked away inside Sofi and ticking away with the beginnings, endings, and answers to everything. Including how to save humanity.

   Goodreads --- Amazon --- Barnes And Noble --- Book Depository --- iBooks --- Kobo --- Indiebound  

Savannah: Hi, Mary! Congrats on the release of your fifth book - I'm excited to have you here today! What are a few quirks about yourself that people might be surprised to know?

*laughs* This question is awesome. Okay so…

1) I get motion sick like nobody’s business. Including in rocking chairs.

2) I’ve been faithfully married to my high school sweetheart for the past 20 years.

3) My first memory of said high-school sweetheart is from when we were both 4 years old and I was staying with his family while my parents were out of town. His sister and I were brushing our teeth when he ran in and peed in the toilet – WHILE I was in the bathroom. I recall thinking he was the most disgusting, rude boy in the world, and wanting nothing to do with him. So of course I married him.

Here we are:

Savannah: That's hilarious ;D. What are some of the songs/artists you listened to a lot while writing the Evaporation of Sofi Snow duology?

I normally don’t listen to music while I write, but for this series I had my headphones on the entire time. These three were heavy on my playlist as well as Arcade Fire!

Savannah: The cover for Memories, Do Not Open has me intrigued, I might have to check it out! ;) What inspired the characters of Sofi, Shilo, and Miguel?

Sofi and Inola were inspired by my grandmother’s heritage and feminine strength as well as the other incredible women in my life. Shilo was based upon my brothers (I have four). And Miguel is in honor of my husband’s family and my friend, Roberto, who is one of the most hilarious and noble gentlemen I know.

Savannah: That's so epic, I love how they were all inspired by real, amazing people. What’s one of the biggest things that’s happened to you during your writing career, and why was it so meaningful for you? 

Oh goodness - I HAVE SO MANY ANSWERS FOR THIS! I think every event is made up of a million meaningful moments - whether it’s getting my first Harper contract, or meeting readers face-to-face, or, more recently, being kissed by Maggie Stiefvater’s goat. Ahem. ;)

However, I’d say in recent months it’s been receiving letters from human trafficking survivors who saw themselves in Sofi story and reached out because of it. Those emails mean more to me than almost anything else in my career.

Savannah: Maggie Steifvater has GOATS? I love her that much more now ;D. And it's so epic that people like that have seen themselves in Sofi's story and reached out to you. How cool <3. Out of all five of your novels, which was the hardest to write, and why?

Definitely RECLAIMING SHILO SNOW. 2017 was just a rough year all around for so many – with the heated cultural, political, and online climates. Also, my day job involves a lot of counseling, and there’s a time and emotional cost that comes with it - meaning I was working on a short time frame and a bit creatively tapped. And yet, for whatever reason that all worked for the book. *laughs* I love this story something fierce, and so far my readers seem to as well – so maybe there was a purpose in all of it, you know? <3

Savannah: Yes, your readers definitely love the story something fierce, too ;D. Alright, last question - what advice would you give to aspiring novelists who want to write meaningful stories? 

I love this question! And I’ll agree with the usual answers to “Keep reading. Keep writing!” I’d also add an encouragement to be bold enough to find mentors who can critique and guide your work. Then – don’t be afraid to reach deep inside your soul until you find your voice – the one that’s the most scared to be heard, because it’s also usually the one with the most heart. And oh man, that is what the world needs more than ever these days – to hear from people who have come alive to what truly matters.

That’s how lives are transformed.

Savannah: Epicness, I love that so much. Thanks for chatting with us, Mary - I enjoyed having you here! <3

Mary Weber is the award-winning HarperCollins author of the bestselling young adult Storm Siren Trilogy, and The Evaporation of Sofi Snow series. An avid school and conference speaker, Mary's passion is helping others find their voice amid a world that often feels too loud. When she's not plotting adventures involving tough girls who frequently take over the world, Mary sings 80's hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands and the ocean. She gets nerdy at @maryweber.com, FACEBOOK @MaryWeberAuthor, INSTAGRAM @MaryWeberAuthor, and GOODREADS.

   I hope y'all had fun reading that! Mary Weber is the sweetest lady and her books are just as incredible as she is, so definitely go check out Reclaiming Shilo Snow! And, like I mentioned earlier, this post is actually a part of an epic tour for Reclaiming Shilo Snow (check out the full schedule here!), which of course means that there is a GIVEAWAY going on ...

here's a link to the giveaway on the tour landing page - rafflecopter is being a beast today, sorry!

   You guys don't want to miss a chance to get your hands on this epic book, so if you haven't ordered a copy of Reclaiming Shilo Snow already, hurry up and enter the giveaway! May the odds be ever in your favor *sweeping bow*.

   Keep being epic, oh scribblings scribes <3.  

~ Savannah Grace

what music do you like to listen to while writing?

have you read Reclaiming Shilo Snow yet?