This month for our September Debut Author Spotlight, we're spotlighting debut author Nicola Yoon and her upcoming novel, Everything, Everything, which will be released later this month. Nicola was also kind enough to answer some questions, share an excerpt, and give away a fun tote bag and some signed swag to celebrate her novel's upcoming release! (You can read our reviews of Everything, Everything here and here!)
About Nicola
Nicola Yoon grew up in Jamaica (the island) and Brooklyn (part of Long Island). She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and daughter, both of whom she loves beyond all reason. Everything, Everything is her first novel.
You can keep up with Nicola on her:
Our Exclusive Interview with Nicola!
First of all, what is Everything, Everything about?
It's the story of girl — Maddy — who is so allergic to the world that she's unable to leave her house. She hasn't left it in all of her seventeen years. One day, a new family with a super cute boy moves in next door. Maddy has to decide if the possibility of love is worth risking her life for.
Why do you think readers will enjoy Everything, Everything? What makes it special?
At its heart,
Everything, Everything
is really a story about love in all its forms — romantic, parental, platonic. It's about the risks we're willing to take for love. It's about how wonderful having love can be
,
and how devastating its loss can be. Also
,
it's told in a really fun format with illustrations, definitions, lists, IMs
,
and at least one recipe!
How does it feel to be a new author? What's scary about it? What's great?
It feels mostly wonderful. Writing and publishing a book is one of my biggest and oldest dreams. The fact that it's coming true is still unbelievable to me. It's really scary to put your words (and your heart) into the world
,
but it's also
amazing and
great.
What do you think about the relationship between the blogging community and authors?
I think it's mostly positive. Both communities love books
,
and book lovers are generally really wonderful people. As with any community, there are sometimes conflicts and a few bad eggs on both sides
,
but I think that's just life and human nature.
What's been your best experience as a new author so far?
Too many to list, but they all revolve around meeting people! I've made some wonderful new friends that I wish I'd met earlier in my life. I've also met lovely, passionate and thoughtful readers that have made my life better in very real ways. Lastly, I've been lucky enough to meet some of my writing heroes
-
including Jacqueline Woodson, Rainbow Rowell, and Jandy Nelson.
What's been your worst experience?
I'm happy to report that it's all been great so far. Knock on wood for me!
What's your advice to fellow debut authors?
Join a debut group and make friends with other debut authors! It helped me so much to have a group of writers to celebrate and be anxious with.
Lastly, will I have a sequel? If not, do you plan on writing anything else in the future?
No sequel plans for Everything, Everything. I'm currently working on my second YA novel. I can't say too much about it except to say that there's love involved!
About Everything, Everything
Title: Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Hardcover, 320 Pages
Summary: This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.
You can find Everything, Everything on:
A Brief Excerpt of Everything, Everything!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He's tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time to celebrate Everything, Everything's release with an EXCLUSIVE giveaway!
Nicola Yoon teamed up with us to help celebrate her debut novel's release with an awesome, EXCLUSIVE swag pack! One (1) Winner will receive an Everything, Everything tote with signed bookmarks and postcards! The giveaway is U.S. Only, as per the author as she is mailing out the prize pack. Good luck to everyone!
We'd like to once again thank debut author Nicola Yoon for agreeing to help us celebrate the release of her September debut novel! This is such a great book that everyone needs to pick up - and we linked our reviews of it up at the top of this post! :-)
BOOKS! Duh! If I could never leave the house, I might be able to take control of my TBR list! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy kindle, it has plenty of books and music on it!
ReplyDeleteMy mind, my imagination.
ReplyDeleteInternet or my Kindle!
ReplyDeleteBooks all the way, literally that's all I would do everyday. Maybe some snacks with that too!
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest here, the internet... mainly netflix xD
ReplyDeleteI just need a house full of books and I'll be okay for a long time :D
ReplyDeletemy main source of entertainment would be be my smartphone. i could go on twitter, talk to my friends, listen to music plus read on my kindle app so its a win win x
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit of an introvert anyways so I would say books, movies, and puzzles.
ReplyDeleteThe internet - for ebooks, tumblr, google, writing, etc. But of course, books as well :)
ReplyDeleteBooks would definitely be my top source of entertainment but internet or movies would be tied for a close second!
ReplyDeleteI actually have a ton of debilitating allergies, so never leaving the house is actually a big part of my life (p.s. I have already read the book, an e-galley, so I know what irony this fact comes with, hahaha...)
ReplyDeleteI run a youtube channel, and that's a huge source of entertainment! I also read & play with my cat a large portion of the time, and work a social media job from home. It all keeps me entertained. ;)