We have a lot of fantastic authors here on OneFour Kidlit, and we’re excited to introduce them to you! Today we’re talking to Stefanie Gaither, author of FALLS THE SHADOW, coming from Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers in 2014. One author, four questions. Here we go!
Hey, you’re getting published! How’d that happen?
The short version: I wrote a book. It was terrible. Agents rejected it. I wrote another book. Same thing happened. I wrote another book. Agents started saying really nice things to me, but ultimately still said no. So I wrote lucky book number four. And then lots of agents started saying really nice things to me, and several of them even used the words “I’d like to offer you representation.” One of the users of those words was Sara Megibow of Nelson Literary. There was acceptance, and much rejoicing, and some revising, and then off on submission we went, and then one day a magical email with the magical word OFFER floated into my inbox, and then I drank lots of celebratory margaritas. The end.
The shorter version: A crap ton of hard work, an unhealthy level of stubbornness, and the developing of a skin so thick that you could bounce knives and ninja stars off of it.
What’s your debut book about? Can you share any cool details with us?
FALLS THE SHADOW is about a girl, Cate, in a near-future world where cloning backup copies of “just-in-case” children is a common–though hotly protested– trend among the parents wealthy enough to afford it. Her whole life, Cate has had to deal with anti-cloning crazies and orginizations harassing her, and with lies about her family being splashed across every tabloid website in the nation. Things go from bad to worse when her sister, Violet, dies and is actually replaced by her “just-in-case” clone.
And then things go from worse to completely catastrophic when the new, cloned Violet ends up the prime suspect in a gruesome murder.
Now, while dodging protestors, police questioning, paparazzi cameras and more, Cate has to try and discover the truth about what really happened. Easier said than done, though, in a world filled with copies and lies, where nothing and no one is completely what they seem.
Oh, and of course there are also a couple swoon-worthy boys (bromance included!), fast cars, and cool weapons. And a bodycount. Because really, where’s the fun without all that? 😉
The title, though it could very well change, comes from one of my favorite poems– “The Hollow Men” by T.S. Eliot, which shares a lot of similar themes with my book (at least as I interpret it).
What are you most excited about in the debut process?
All of it. No, seriously. This is all so surreal, still, that I feel like I will love every little moment that makes it feel that much more real. The first look at potential covers, the first time holding a completed book in my hands, the first positive review, the first negative review, the first time seeing my book on a bookstore shelf, the first gushing email from a reader, the first email from a reader who thinks I am a complete and total hack, the first time seeing someone reading my book (my book!) out in public, etc…
Really, I’m just an excitable person in general.
What cool facts might readers not know about you?
- I live in an apartment behind (what used to be) a coffeeshop that my husband and I ran for a few years. It’s now been transformed into a different restaurant with a different manager, but I scored a commercial espresso machine in the process. It is gigantic, and it now takes up half my kitchen counter, and I love it.
- I legit cannot snap my fingers. Many, many people have tried to teach me, all have failed. I’m a kick-butt whistler, though.
- I have a dog named Shakespeare. He controls our home, and everyone in it.
- I changed my major no less than six times in college before settling on English/Creative Writing. At one point I even majored in Spanish.
- I don’t speak a word of Spanish.
- I can, however, recite the entirety of the LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring movie, and most of the other two LOTR movies, more or less from memory. I’ve put this useful skill on a resume before (and yes, I did get the job).
- I have a strong affinity for giraffes. Strong as in, my house is decorated with giraffe pillows, giraffe statues, giraffe pictures…etc… I mean, have you ever looked at a giraffe? They’re just so fantastically awkward.
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This book sounds awesome. I’m sold.
Thanks! 🙂
I love your publication journey story, and how you have a thick skin! I’m still developing mine. 🙂
I can’t snap either! It’s just not possible for my fingers. Glad I’m not the only one!
Looking forward to reading your book next year.
Fantastic! We should start a club for awesome non-finger-snappers. We could have t-shirts and everything. 🙂
Thanks for reading and commenting! And good luck developing your thick skin; you’re gonna need it 😉
“just in case” clones….so delightfully macabre! Can’t wait to read this, Stef – and oh god, living behind a coffeeshop (current or former) sounds pretty much like heaven!
Delightfully macabre– I love it! That’s how I’m going to start describing it to people. I can’t wait for you to read it either! And it is a -bit- like heaven, living behind a coffeeshop. Just a bit. 😉
This whole interview made me smile. I remember your book premise from back in the Internet contest days (at least I think I do!) – still sounds cool.
Thank you! I think it’s pretty cool too, but I’m probably biased.
Love the concept of your novel. I think I may have read an excerpt of the first page on one of your blogs. Can’t wait to check it out!
Very possible; I had excerpts and stuff up on the old blog. Anywho, thanks for commenting and such! I can’t wait for you to check it out either 🙂
You are adorable!! So jealous about the commercial espresso machine- I would probably never sleep if I had one (but I’d get so much accomplished)!
Love the premise for Falls the Shadow!
Oh yes, I’m definitely an insomniac myself. Go figure, right?
Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂
Looking forward to reading this!
xo
Awesome! I hope it lives up to your expectations 🙂
Thanks for the interview!! This book sounds amazing and I can’t wait to read it next year!! 😀
Btw, I’m with you in not being able to snap my fingers 😛
Yay, more members for the non-finger snapping club! I feel less alone every day I spend on the internet 😉 Thanks for commenting.
You are so pretty! How are you old enough to have written 4 novels and ran a coffee shop?
Awww *blushes* Sometimes I forget I’m only 25, too. I feel a lot older, if that makes it any better…? Thanks for stopping by and reading 🙂
LOL, “the developing of a skin so thick that you could bounce knives and ninja stars off of it.” This is SO necessary. Way to go, and I can’t wait to read your book! 🙂
It so totally is! And thank you 🙂 I hope you enjoy it, when you do get to read it. And ditto about yours! WORDLESS sounds awesome!
I am really, really, really hoping to get an early look at this book because…BECAUSE IT MUST BE AMAZING.
Also because Stephanie is brilliant and I ❤ her.
This is a very flattering comment. I like this comment. Another!
Heh, seriously though– thanks! 🙂 I hope you do find it amazing! You’re on my list of “smart, talented people I should get to read the revision of FALLS so they can tell me if it sucks, when the time comes.” 🙂
Oh wow, ‘just-in-case’ clones sound awesomely creepy. Can’t wait to read this!