I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WILLIE THE
WORRYING DOG by David Yuen & Micah Zhang Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book
Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About
The Book:
Author: David Yuen & Micah Zhang (Illustrator)
Pub. Date: June 10, 2023
Publisher: Upward Bound Press
Formats: Hardcover
Pages: 36
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, BAM, Bookshop.org, Blackwells
Willie can't
help but worry. Worrying is the worst thing ever. And now his owner wants to
take him to a new park where everything's different. Oh no, Willie feels
doomed! What if things go wrong? What if something bad happens? Will Willie
make it? Or will worry get the best of him?
Interview:
For the
readers: can you tell us a little bit about your book and the characters?
My book is
about worry and all the nasty unwanted little thoughts that rush into our head
even when the future doesn’t exist yet. It’s about, Willie, a dog who tries,
but just can’t handle these little thoughts by himself and when the unexpected
comes those thoughts get in the way from him seeing anything else. And this
book is about the unexpected friends he meets who help him realize one thing:
he can’t do it alone.
What are
you working on now?
Right now,
I’m taking a short hiatus and focusing on other areas of my life and less on
writing. To be honest, I’m working on myself. I’m learning to love my friends
and family just a little bit more. I’m working just a little harder on what I
know I need to work on. And I’m focusing more on the things I know I should be focused
on more. Does that make sense?
Were any
of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
Well, that’s
a loaded question! Yes, as a person who suffers and struggles with anxiety all
his life, Willie is almost a translation of myself. I awfulize. I ruminate. I
think about the worst things that haven’t happened. And the other characters
that are introduced in the book are inspired by the people who’ve came into my
life who taught me an important lesson—most things that we do to ourselves are
more in our head than in reality.
Who was
your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
The type of characters that I gravitate towards are those
who don’t really have it altogether and who struggle with themselves. But
despite their struggles, they still try to do the right thing or just need a
little guidance to do the right thing. I believe those characters really speak
to all of us because we all struggle. And even those who are good at hiding it,
it doesn’t make those struggle non-existent and it doesn’t change the fact that
we’re all only human.
The least
favorite characters that I try to avoid writing are those who have it
altogether all the time without any depth of how they ended up that way. These
characters are simply born perfect and go through life effortlessly. Honestly,
not only are they not interesting, but they’re unrealistic.
What is
your favorite passages/scenes in your book?
When the
thunderstorm happens and Willie and his friends have to go beneath a bench to
shelter from it. It’s a very climatic moment, where Willie learns actual ways
to deal with his struggle from those willing to come beside him. It’s
friendship, it’s wisdom, it’s honesty—all good ingredients to overcome
challenges.
What kind
of research did you have to do for the story?
A lot of the
research that I had to do was really more self-reflection than anything. My
life was essentially the research material and figuring what I had to do to get
over my anxiety was poured into this book. Honestly, I still struggle with anxiety,
but if it wasn’t for the friends and family that stepped in and who were
willing to walk beside me, this book probably wouldn’t have happened and I
would be in a very different place. And I owe so much to them.
Lightning Round Questions
What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your
TBR that you’re dying to read?
I have a Tim Tebow book that I have yet to crack open but I heard a bit about. I should really read that shouldn’t I?
Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, or Facebook?
Facebook. I’m old fashioned.
Favorite Superhero?
Green Lantern. I mean, Batman. No, Superman…really, I can’t decide, sorry.
Favorite TV show?
Stranger Things
Sweet or Salty?
Depends on my mood.
Any Phobias?
The phobia of failure.
Song you can’t get enough of right now?
Are any of you familiar with southern folk music?
2023 Movie you’re most looking forward to?
The Flash
About David Yuen:
Born and raised in NJ as a
second generation Chinese American, David Yuen received a B.A. from Rutgers
University and has been writing poetry along with other writing styles for over
twenty years. His works have appeared in other publications including Poetry
East and Romantics Quarterly.
Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
Micah Zhang, a North American based visual
artist with Chinese and Japanese roots. His visual language encompasses the
wonders of nature, the allure of science fiction, the essence of urban
lifestyle, and the enigmatic mysteries of our world. With a decade of
experience, he breathes life into stories through his illustrations and various
artistic mediums. With a keen sense for details and a knack for capturing
imagination, Micah Zhang expertly brings fantasy characters to life in a
visually pleasing style.
Giveaway
Details:
1 winner will win a finished
copy of WILLIE THE WORRYING DOG, US Only.
Ends July 4th, midnight EST
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour
Schedule:
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6/26/2023 |
Guest Post |
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6/26/2023 |
IG Post |
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6/27/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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6/27/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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6/28/2023 |
Guest Post |
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6/28/2023 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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6/29/2023 |
IG Post |
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6/29/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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6/29/2023 |
IG Review |
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6/29/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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6/30/2023 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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6/30/2023 |
IG Review |
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7/1/2023 |
IG Review |
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7/1/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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7/2/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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7/2/2023 |
IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post |
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