Blog Tour- AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS by @yourbuffalo With An Interview & #Giveaway! @HolidayHouseBks, & @RockstarBkTours

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS by Audrey Vernick Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS

Author: Audrey Vernick

Pub. Date: July 7, 2020

Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books

Formats:  Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 224

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Left reeling after her thoughtless mistake causes a terrible accident, 12-year-old Army Morand channels her grief to help someone in need.

Army Morand feels like her life has been blown to bits when the worst thing imaginable happens--her beloved dog dies. It was an accident, but it was also Army's fault. She can't seem to stop hiding from everything and everybody including her best friend JennaLouise.

But then Army sees Madison, the little girl who moved in across the way, climbing a tree and walking down the street unsupervised. Her family is not neglectful, just overwhelmed. Army finds herself overcome with the need to help Madison's family to make sure another worst thing doesn't happen--which becomes even more challenging when a big storm threatens her town.

"The subjects are heavy, but Army’s young voice infuses them with humor and warmth, even when her path forward seems uncertain. 'Just go with it and make things happen before you totally understand how to do all of it,' Army suggests, a hard-won lesson that young readers will take to heart." —Booklist

"this is fundamentally the story of small moments of growth and insight. Army’s first-person narration feels particularly authentic as she navigates her intense feelings"—The Horn Book

"In short chapters told from Army’s earnest first-person perspective, she finds new ways to negotiate with her caring but emotionally reserved parents and steps out of her own comfort zone; this exploration of family dynamics is where the novel shines."—Kirkus Reviews

"With moments of humor, Vernick (Two Naomis) weaves together a well-paced story that explores grief in all its raw pain, as well as the power of friends, family, and community to help heal." —Publishers Weekly

Interview:

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about the AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS and the characters?

It's about twelve-year-old Army Morand who, after a terrible accident, which was largely her fault, can't seem to stop hiding from everything and everybody. That sounds like the saddest book in the world, but it’s really not. Army doesn’t really know it, but things start to shift for her when she sees the little girl who moved in across the way, Madison, climbing a tree one day and walking down the street unsupervised another. The new neighbors are not neglectful, just overwhelmed. Army feels this surge of need—need-to-help Madison’s family, to make sure another worst thing doesn’t happen.

Her go-to lifetime best friend, JennaLouise (no space), doesn’t seem to get it—in fact, she seems pretty judgmental when Army talks about what’s going on across the street. Oddly, it’s a girl who’s never been a friend before, Elsie Jenkins, who basically inserts herself into Army’s life. In the end, it’s about finding love and hope and friendship in surprising places.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a number of picture books.

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

Some of the incidents in the book really happened but the characters are all made up.

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

I loved writing the scenes with the dog, Maybe. He was a very happy boy. Least favorite was probably when things were tense between Army and her mom—the mom wasn’t the kind I had or the kind I was. She was more reserved and it wasn’t all that fun to write.

What is your favorite passages/scenes in AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS?

There’s a scene involving a litter of puppies that was so much fun to write. It was such a relief that Army was in a joyous place after a hard time.

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

I did a lot of research on autism and the nuances of language people use when talking about autism. I also did some thoroughly enjoyable research about service dogs.

What inspired you to write middle grade lit?

It is tied directly to how much I loved the middle-grade books that I read and reread as a child.

Lightning Round Questions

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

I am rereading—and thoroughly enjoying—the Penderwicks books. (I’m looking to escape the time we’re living in.)

Instagram, Twitter or Facebook?

Facebook

Favorite Superhero?

Barack Obama

Favorite TV show?

Better Things

Sweet or Salty?

Sweet

Any Phobias?

Yes, but I’m too phobic to say.

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

It is actually a song that can’t get enough of me. I have had a dreadful earworm for weeks now of a Paul Westerberg song, “Things.” I need it to stop.

2020 Movie you’re most looking forward to?

Bill and Ted 3!

Thanks so much Audrey for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS!

About Audrey:

Audrey grew up in Whitestone, New York, where she lived with her parents and two sisters and a not very bright small white dog. She has a freaky memory about the names of the kids in her class at P.S. 184Q, and even remembers where most of them stood in size order. 

She always loved to read and still rereads Harriet the Spy on a regular basis.  She was not one of those children who always knew she wanted to be a writer; she didn't love to write until college. She's been writing ever since. 

In addition to writing for children, Audrey has published more than a dozen short stories for adults in magazines and literary journals. She received an mfa from Sarah Lawrence College.

Audrey divides her time between writing (which is mostly spent revising) and visiting elementary schools to talk about writing and publishing. (For school visit info, click here.) She also speaks at conferences around the country. 

She lives near the ocean in New Jersey with her family. and one fairly intelligent medium-sized black dog.

Audrey Vernick received a 2019 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/3/2020	Her Book Thoughts	Review
8/3/2020	Her Book Thoughts	Instagram Stop
8/4/2020	BookHounds YA	Interview
8/4/2020	Oodles of Books	Review
8/4/2020	Jaime's World	Excerpt
8/5/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review
8/5/2020	kelly_lyn_90	Instagram Stop
8/5/2020	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
8/6/2020	onemused	Review/Instagram Stop
8/6/2020	reading_with_nessie	Review
8/6/2020	Two Chicks on Books	Interview
8/7/2020	notinjersey	Excerpt
8/7/2020	notinjersey	Instagram Stop
8/7/2020	TheReadingCornerforAll	Review
8/7/2020	TheReadingCornerforAll	Instagram Stop
8/7/2020	JaimeRockstarBookTours	Instagram Stop

Week Two:

8/10/2020	Kait Plus Books	Review
8/10/2020	Kait Plus Books	Instagram Stop
8/11/2020	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
8/11/2020	YA Books Central	Excerpt
8/11/2020	YA Books Central	Instagram Stop
8/12/2020	Life Writings of a Reader	Excerpt
8/12/2020	Life Writings of a Reader	Instagram Stop
8/13/2020	two points of interest	Review
8/13/2020	Here's to Happy Endings	Review
8/14/2020	fictitious.fox	Review/Instagram Stop
8/14/2020	Hurn Publications	Review
8/14/2020	Hurn Publications	Instagram Stop