Meet The Newbies Featuring Sarah Glenn Marsh & 2 Giveaways!

I am thrilled to be hosting Sarah Glenn Marsh for the Meet The Newbies Event! FEAR THE DROWNING DEEP sounds absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to read it! I have a Q&A to share with you today! And make sure to enter the awesome giveaway below! 

Haven't heard of FEAR THE DROWNING DEEP? Check it out!

Title: FEAR THE DROWNING DEEP

Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh

Release Date: October 4^th, 2016

Pages: 256

Publisher: Sky Pony Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Witch’s apprentice Bridey Corkill has hated the ocean ever since she watched her granddad dive in and drown with a smile on his face. So when a dead girl rolls in with the tide in the summer of 1913, sixteen-year-old Bridey suspects that whatever compelled her granddad to leap into the sea has made its return to the Isle of Man.

Soon, villagers are vanishing in the night, but no one shares Bridey’s suspicions about the sea. No one but the island’s witch, who isn’t as frightening as she first appears, and the handsome dark-haired lad Bridey rescues from a grim and watery fate. The cause of the deep gashes in Fynn’s stomach and his lost memories are, like the recent disappearances, a mystery well-guarded by the sea. In exchange for saving his life, Fynn teaches Bridey to master her fear of the water — stealing her heart in the process.

Now, Bridey must work with the Isle’s eccentric witch and the boy she isn’t sure she can trust — because if she can’t uncover the truth about the ancient evil in the water, everyone she loves will walk into the sea, never to return.

Now on to the interview!

Hi Sarah! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books! I am so happy to be hosting you for A Perfection Called Books Meet The Newbies Event! I am dying to read FEAR THE DROWNING DEEP and I can’t wait for my readers to read it!

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about FEAR THE DROWNING DEEP and the characters?

FEAR tells the story of sixteen-year-old Bridey Corkill, who’s living on the Isle of Man in 1913. She’s hated the ocean ever since she was a little girl, when she saw her grandfather leap from the cliffs and drown with a smile on his face. As the story begins, Bridey sees a body washed up on the shores of Port Coire, her small town, and it isn’t long before her friends and neighbors start disappearing in the night. It’s up to Bridey to convince everyone of the danger in the water before she loses the people she loves most…

Here are a few things this story contains that I love: a handsome boy with a mysterious past (Fynn!), kissing, an old woman who might be a witch (Morag!), lots of Manx culture and mythology, small-town gossips, sea monsters you may not have heard of, and Bridey’s several sisters (Grayse, Mally, and Liss!).

Is it a standalone? If not do you have a title for book 2 yet and if so what are you working on now?

FEAR is indeed a standalone, but I have more YA fantasy projects in the works that I can’t wait to share more about as soon as possible! I like to describe my most recent project as SABRIEL meets GRACELING; it’s a dark, diverse epic fantasy.

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

Not exactly! However, I have a younger sister, which made me want to write a sister book—and that’s how Bridey wound up with three awesome sisters!

Then there’s Morag, the elderly witch in the book. She’s quite a strong person in some ways (certainly not in all!), but her inner strength was inspired by my maternal grandmother, who’s a badass in her own right and who helped to raise me because we’ve always lived close by.

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

One character I loved writing was Morag, the island’s witch. She lives in a crumbling cottage deep in the forest above Bridey’s (the MC’s) village. She’s feared by the town, but there’s so much more to her than meets the eye. And the things that come out of her mouth are sometimes cutting, something hilarious, and always wise. I adore her!

The toughest character to write (though by NO means my least favorite character in the story—in fact, I adore him!) was Lugh, one of Bridey’s two best friends. He experiences a lot of loss in the book, and he’s in such a dark head space sometimes that I found it painful to have to go there with him! Poor Lugh. I’m such a mean author!

What is your favorite passage/scene in FEAR THE DROWNING DEEP?

Great question! There’s a scene I love where Bridey goes to her village market and sees something that the fishermen pulled out of the sea…I won’t spoil what it is, though!

I also love basically every part where Bridey and Morag (the witch) have an interaction, because her dialogue amuses me :)

What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

There’s definitely a lot of research involved in any historical (even one with fantasy elements!). But with FEAR, my research process was a bit unusual. First, I found some great books from the 1800s on Manx mythology (mainly dealing with fairies and the Islanders’ customs and lore surrounding them), and took notes on those! I also ordered some Manx history books directly from the Isle–I don’t recommend this though, unless you want to spend a TON on shipping!

I also went to YouTube to look up videos of the Isle of Man TT. This is a famous motorcycle race (for those who aren’t as enthralled by motorcycles as I am!) and my awesome biker dad had mentioned it to me several times growing up. Bikers from around the world flock to the Isle of Man for this big race around the island each year; it’s actually been happening since the early 1900s! I watched videos of the TT to get a sense for the Manx landscape and the accents of the Manx people reporting on the race!

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

One of my recent reads was Kali Wallace’s SHALLOW GRAVES, and Laurie Elizabeth Flynn’s FIRSTS, both of which I loved! Up next on my TBR is THE MYSTERY OF HOLLOW PLACES by Rebecca Podos, and after that, I can’t wait to read more books by my fellow debuts!

Who is your ultimate Book Boyfriend?

A young Sirius Black from Harry Potter!

What inspired you to write YA?

I write YA because I love to read YA. There’s something irresistible about the emotions in YA, and the ability to explore a variety of relationships (not just romantic ones, but friendships and changing relationships with peers and family!). I think that’s a big part of the appeal. Too, there’s nothing quite like the intensity of first love, or that time in your life when there are so many options laid out before you, so many paths you could take. Another great thing about YA (as opposed to adult) is the ability to blend genres. In short, YA is where the fun is! :)

Lightning Round Questions

If you were to be sorted by the Sorting Hat, which Hogwarts House would you be sorted into?

Slytherin represent!  

Twitter or Facebook?

Twitter

Favorite Superhero?

Captain America!

Favorite TV show?

This is a dangerous question ;) Ahem:

Firefly; Grimm; Castle; Killjoys; Dark Matter; 12 Monkeys; Haven (Basically if it’s on SyFy, I love it)

…And a guilty addiction to the Bachelor.

Sweet or Salty?

I like them together! Chocolate-covered pretzels = bliss!

Any Phobias?

Robots (no, really, I don’t trust them). Also, bugs are my arch nemesis!

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

Since I can’t give just one answer when it comes to music:

Hands to Myself- Selena Gomez

Stressed Out- twenty one pilots

Halsey’s entire Badlands album

Upcoming Movie you’re most looking forward to?

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I’m so ready!

Thanks so much Sarah for answering my questions!

And thank you so much for having me, Jaime! J

Author Most Likely to Fill Her Car With Stray Animals Before Making It Home From School!

Nickname: Sunshine

First Day of School: September 2016 (no specific day yet--will update you when I know it later this month!)

Homeroom: Sky Pony Press

Grade: Historical Fantasy

Extracurricular Activities: Captain, Slytherin Quidditch Team, Cheer, Dance, Choir, Horseback Riding

Favorite Class: Care of Magical Creatures

Favorite Quote: "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." --J.R.R. Tolkien

About Sarah:

Sarah Glenn Marsh writes young adult novels and children’s picture books. An avid fantasy reader from the day her dad handed her a copy of The Hobbit and promised it would change her life, she’s been making up words and worlds ever since.

When she’s not writing, Sarah enjoys watercolor painting, ghost hunting, and pursuits of the nerd variety, from video games to tabletop adventures. She’s never met an animal or a doughnut she didn’t like.

Sarah lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, four rescued greyhounds, and many fish. She is the author of Fear the Drowning Deep, the Reign of the Fallen duology, and several picture books.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagrams 

Giveaway Details:

1 Pre-Order or Finished Copy of Any Debut Novel Featured on Meet the Newbies, International (as long as The Book Depository ships to your country)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 winner will receive a pre-order of FEAR THE DROWNING DEEP, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

April:

1. Rachel - Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here by Anna Breslaw  - f
2. Danielle - Save Me, Kurt Cobain by Jenny Manzer
3. Shannon - Crossing The Line by Meghan Rogers
4. Alyssa - These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas
5. Rachel - A Study In Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
6. Nori - Love, Lies & Spies by Cindy Anstey
7. Sarah - Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
8. Jess - The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M Parker - f
9. Rachel - Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
10. Eileen - My Kind of Crazy by Robin Reul
11. Jessica - Beyond The Red by Ava Jae
12. Crystal - A Fierce and Subtle Poison by Samantha Mabry
13. Rachel - The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter  
14. Jaime - Future Shock by Elizabeth Briggs
15. Nori - Emerge by Tobie Easton - f
16. Crystal - Stone Field by Christy Lenzi
17. Shannon - The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie
18. Alyssa - Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan  
19. Rachel - Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
20. Shannon - After the Woods by Kim Savage
21. Jaime - Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse
22. Lisa - Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods - f
23. Rachel - The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
24. Alyssa - Arrows by Melissa Gorzelanczyk
25. Eileen - Dreamology by Lucy Keating
26. Aentee - Wandering Wild by Jessica Taylor
27. Nori - Underwater by Marisa Reichardt
28. Crystal - Into the Dim by Janet B Taylor
29. Jess - This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp - f
30. Lisa - Summer of Sloane by Erin L Schneider

May:

1. Jaime - The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye
2. Rachel - The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood
3. Liran - The Love That Split The World by Emily Henry --
4. Nori - Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers
5. Shannon - Even If The Sky Falls by Mia Garcia
6. Rachel - Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie - f
7. Jessica - Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira
8. Lisa - The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin
9. Shannon - The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexander
10. Rachel - The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos
11. Kristen - Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
12. Danielle - Jerkbait by Mia Siegert
13. Brittany - Please Don't Tell by Laura Tims - f
14. Rachel - The Reader by Traci Chee
15. Lisa - 26 Kisses by Anna Michels
16. Rachel - Frannie and Tru by Karen Hattrup
17. Alise - Enter Title Here by Rahul Kanakia
18. Rachel - The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
19. Lisa - The Way I Used To Be  by Amber Smith
20. Rachel - Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake - f
21. Liran - Firsts by Laurie E. Flynn
22. Rachel - Kill The Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky
23. Danielle - Liars and Losers Like Us by Ami Allen-Vath
24. Jaime - Roses and Rot by Kat Howard
25. Kristen - The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
26. Rachel - The Marked Girl by Lindsey Klingele
27. Eileen - Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace - f
28. Rachel - Of Blood and Shadow by Kerri Maniscalco
29. Aentee - Revenge and the Wild  by Michelle Modesto
30. Rachel - Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh
31. Liran - All The Feels by Danika Stone

June:

1. Shannon - How It Ends by Catherine Lo
2. Andye - Fear My Mortality by Everly Frost send info
3. Empty f
4. Alise - The Killer in Me by Margot Harrison
5. Sarah - Signs of You by Emily France
6. Brittany - The Way Back To You by Michelle Andreani
7. Rachel - How To Hang A Witch by Adriana Mather
8. Sarah - SLIP by Kara Bietz
9. Danielle - Timekeeper by Tara Sim
10. Andye - Genesis Girl by Jennifer Bardsley - f
11. Rachel - Caraval by Stephanie Garber
12. Alyssa - Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
13. Jaime - Fear The Drowning Deep by Sarah Glenn Marsh
14. Alise - Ripple by Heather Smith Meloche
15. Rachel - Mirror in the Sky by Aditi Khorana
16. Nori - Unscripted Joss Byrd by Lygia Day Penaflor send info
17. Rachel - Girls in the Moon by Janet McNally - f
18. Kristen - Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
19. Shannon - Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy
20. Danielle - Phantom Limbs by Paula Garner
21. Rachel - The Cat King of Havana by Tom Crosshill
22. Andye - Bound By Blood and Sand by Becky Allen
23. Rachel - Ever The Hunted by Erin Summerill
24. Shannon - Gemini by Sonya Mukherjee - f
25. Danielle - Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
26. Jess - The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati
27. Rachel - Flashfall by Jenny Moyer
28. Empty
29. Nori - A Song to Take the World Part by Zan Romanoff
30. Alise - A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess