Title: ESME’S WISH
Author: Elizabeth Foster
Pub. Date: October 30, 2017
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages:252
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD
“A fresh new fantasy of an enchanting world.” – Wendy Orr, author of Nim’s Island and Dragonfly Song.
When fifteen-year-old Esme Silver objects at her father’s wedding, her protest is dismissed as the action of a stubborn, selfish teenager. Everyone else has accepted the loss of Esme’s mother, Ariane – so why can’t she?
But Esme is suspicious. She is sure that others are covering up the real reason for her mother’s disappearance – that ‘lost at sea’ is code for something more terrible, something she has a right to know.
After Esme is accidentally swept into the enchanted world of Aeolia, the truth begins to unfold. With her newfound friends, Daniel and Lillian, Esme retraces her mother’s steps in the glittering canal city of Esperance, untangling the threads of Ariane’s double life. But the more Esme discovers about her mother, the more she questions whether she really knew her at all.
This fresh, inventive tale is an ideal read for younger teens.
About Elizabeth:
I was born in Brisbane, Australia, and now live in Sydney. Apart from writing and reading, which take up most of my time, I love walking, travelling and playing piano (badly).
As a child, I was called Dizzy Lizzy – which I regarded as an insult all my life, until I started writing! Now, daydreaming is a central part of what I do. My favourite childhood books included the Chronicles of Narnia and Enid Blyton’s adventure stories. I was such an avid reader that my godfather gave me the complete works of Shakespeare when I was ten. (Still haven’t read them all…) My reading tastes nowadays are eclectic, ranging from classic authors such as Jane Austen, to the works of modern YA writers, including J.K. Rowling, Tamora Pierce, Melina Marchetta and Maggie Stiefvater.
I love movies almost as much as books. Dreamlike films – such as the works of Hayao Miyazaki – hugely appeal to me, as do any clever psychological films and TV series which revolve around female characters, such as Buffy and Veronica Mars.
I used to enjoy writing as a child, but then I grew up and was sadly waylaid by more serious pursuits. Reading to my own kids reminded me of how much I missed getting lost in other worlds, and once I started writing again, I couldn’t stop. I am also fascinated with people’s motivations and personalities, and now I get to explore them on the page. I am a member of the SCBWI, the CBCA, and a reviewer for CBCA’s Reading Time.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads
Daily Waffle Q&A
Do you try to set a number of words per day?
I admire authors that can stick to a word-count-per-day, but I find that rather stressful. What works for me is setting aside a certain number of hours per day to focus on writing. That way, at the end of the day, I feel accomplished regardless of how many words I’ve written.
What struggles have you overcome as a writer?
I’ve had to learn every aspect of the craft from scratch, so almost everything was a struggle. There’s no manual on ‘how to be a writer’ – despite how many books there are out there claiming to be – and I was astounded at just how many elements a writer has to balance. Plot, characterization, pace, setting, prose, tone, dialogue, subtext… the list is endless. Just when I thought I’d mastered everything, I’d realize there was something else! Fortunately, once you’ve got the hang of it with your first book, it all becomes a little easier to juggle.
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
Shakespeare, for obvious reasons. But most of all, to ask him how he managed to write such timeless masterpieces while dealing with the plague, censorship, and an audience who didn’t believe in bathing.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write, write, write – but also, spend just as much time reading as you do writing! It’s like free tuition from the greats.
Where do you see publishing going in the future?
I think the publishing industry is going to do just fine. People have been decrying the death of the novel since its inception – but if the return of the serialized novel today is any indication, books will always be around in some form or another. More than ever, people are looking for ways to escape, and the way literature blends an author’s imagination with one’s own is unlike any other form of media.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive an eBook of ESME’S WISH, International.
Rafflecopter Link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2751/
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
5/21/2018- Mythical Books– Excerpt
5/21/2018- The Reading Life– Spotlight
5/22/2018- Of Wonderland- Review
5/22/2018- Novel Novice– Guest Post
5/23/2018- Cindy’s Love of Books- Review
5/23/2018- BookHounds YA- Interview
5/24/2018- The slytherin book lady– Review
5/24/2018- Kati’s Bookaholic Rambling Reviews– Excerpt
5/25/2018- RhythmicBooktrovert- Review
5/25/2018- Books a Plenty Book Reviews– Spotlight
Week Two:
5/28/2018- Devouring Books– Review
5/28/2018- Daily Waffle– Interview
5/29/2018- The Inked In Book Blog– Review
5/29/2018- paseandoamisscultura– Guest Post
5/30/2018- Dazzled by Books– Excerpt
5/30/2018- Ziggy’s Reading Corner– Excerpt
5/31/2018- Owl Always Be Reading- Excerpt
5/31/2018- The Cozy Reading Corner– Spotlight
6/1/2018- F A N N A- Interview
6/1/2018- Books A-Brewin’– Excerpt