Showing posts with label Girl Who Could Not Dream. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Girl Who Could Not Dream. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Author Interview: Sarah Beth Durst

Last week I reviewed The Girl Who Could Not Dream and today I'm chatting with the fabulous author, Sarah Beth Durst. I LOVED this book, check out my review. I saw Sarah at BEA in booth and she quickly got me a book and gave me a big hug. I'm so happy to be chatting her today on the blog. Plus the book comes out today, so go grab it!!

If you could dream about one thing only for the rest of your life what would it be?
Dragons.

I love dreams that come with a plot -- the ones with adventure, romance, magic, heroes and heroines, magical talking animals, friendly telepathic dragons...  So if I had to dream about only one thing, I'd want it to be that kind of dream, a fun fantasy.

Did you have an imaginary friend who you wished was real when you were small?
I really, really wanted to, because I thought it would be AWESOME to have an imaginary friend, but sadly, I was always aware she was imaginary.  So I basically had an imaginary imaginary friend that I would pretend to believe in.

Anyone else do this?  No?  Just me?  Sigh.

Do you think dreams are trying to tell us something?
Yes!  Mine tell me I should have been a dragonrider, and also that I will be useless in the zombie apocalypse.  Seriously, in most cases, I think my dreams are just bits of stories and moments and stray thoughts that are bopping around in my brain like pinballs in a pinball machine -- for me, they never seem to reveal any grand secrets or issuing any warnings or prophecies. 

If you had a hidden shop - what would you sell?
The idea behind THE GIRL WHO COULD NOT DREAM is that Sophie's family owns a secret dream shop where they buy, bottle, and sell dreams.  And I'd love to have their shop.  Or even just know about it, so I could be a customer!

So often, I've woken up in the morning after a great dream and tried to fix it in my mind, only to have it dissolve into a vague memory.  I wish I could bottle my best dreams and use them to replace those boring real-life-but-something-annoying-happened dreams.

If I couldn't sell dreams... then I don't want to sell magical items, like Elives' Magic Shop in Bruce Coville's Magic Shop books.

Can you tell us about your next book?
Yes!  I'm currently working on an epic fantasy trilogy for adults about bloodthirsty nature spirits and the women who can control them.  The first book is called THE QUEEN OF BLOOD, and it's coming in fall 2016 from Harper Voyager.

Do you have a favorite line or two from the book?
This is from one of my favorite scenes:

"What do you eat, Monster?"
"Small children," he said hopefully.
Mom recoiled.
"Joking," the monster said.  "I am telling a joke.  I am a funny monster, aren't I?"
"Hilarious," Dad said drily.
Monster untangled himself from Sophie and trotted after Mom.  “"Just a few hamsters would be fine.  Or mice.  I like mice."

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Tween Tuesday Review: The Girl Who Could Not Dream

Sophie lives above a hidden shop. Her family owns a bookstore but below the bookstore lies a dream shop. Special people can purchase and sell dreams. Sophie helps out her parents, but she actually can not dream.

One morning, she comes downstairs without checking the calendar. Sophie and Monster (her best friend who came to life from a dream) come down stairs and find a man in the bookstore. The man pretends not to notice, but he does ask several questions. Sophie's parents freak out and with good reason.

When Sophie comes home from school, the bookstore and her home are trashed and her parents are missing. Sophie isn't sure what to do, but she knows that she must do something. Should she trust her new friend with her secret in hopes that he might be able to help?
My Thoughts: I really loved this book. I loved the cozy bookstore and learning about the dream shop underneath the store. I really loved Monster - he was funny, quirky, and very loyal. I loved his admiration for cupcakes.  I liked Sophie branching out of her shell with the dream catchers and even finding friends. I really liked Ethan and how he didn't care that Sophie was weird - he just liked spending time with her. I liked how Sophie dealt with Madison - who wasn't the same as Ethan. She didn't want people knowing about their relationship. But I like how she changed over the book. The bravery the characters showed shone through, along with their determination. Mr. Nightmare was scary and downright creepy. The ending is sweet and heartwarming.

Cover Thoughts: I like it now that I've read the book but before reading it seemed really strange
Source: BEA Arc

Final Thoughts: Charming friendships, dangerous dreams, a creepy villain, and a secret mix together to make a perfect middle grade fantasy read. Run out to the library or bookstore to request this book today!