We’re delighted to have Amy Trueblood with us to share more about her debut novel, NOTHING BUT SKY.
Amy, what did this book teach you about writing or about yourself?
This book pushed me to the edge of the envelope. There were many times I wanted to put it away and never look at it again. But every time I would walk away, the characters would pull me back. Grace would plead not to give up on her and I’d imagine an idea for a new stunt. Or Henry would whisper another story about his past and I would be drawn back to the page. NOTHING BUT SKY taught me that if your story has enough teeth, it’s worth sticking with it to the very end!
Was there an AHA! moment along your road to publication where something suddenly sank in and you felt you had the key to writing a novel? What was it?
My AHA! moment was a continuous string of kindly worded rejections during the submission process. It gave me hope that my book had merit and could draw interest. I knew going in that NOTHING BUT SKY would be hard sell, but I also knew that if it could make it into the hands of the right editor at the right time then it would sell.
What are you working on now?
I swore I’d give myself a break before writing another YA Historical manuscript, but a new plot bunny popped into my head after seeing an image posted from “History in Pictures” on Twitter. That photograph spurred one idea after another and I knew I had to start working. I can’t say a lot about it except it takes places in San Francisco circa 1936 and follows the story of another young, determined female! 🙂
ABOUT THE BOOK
Nothing But Sky
by Amy Trueblood
Paperback
Flux
Released 3/27/2018
“Amy Trueblood takes an overlooked page in history, folds it into an intense drama, and sends it soaring. Post World War I wing walker Grace Lafferty is the kind of spunky, stubborn heroine that will make readers feel like the sky’s the limit.”
—Stacey Lee, award winning author of OUTRUN THE MOON
A 2018 Junior Library Guild selection.
Grace Lafferty only feels alive when she’s dangling 500 feet above ground. As a post-World War I wing walker, Grace is determined to get to the World Aviation Expo, proving her team’s worth against flashier competitors and earning a coveted Hollywood contract.
No one’s ever questioned Grace’s ambition until Henry Patton, a mechanic with plenty of scars from the battlefield, joins her barnstorming team. With each new death-defying trick, Henry pushes Grace to consider her reasons for being a daredevil. Annoyed with Henry’s constant interference, and her growing attraction to him, Grace continues to test the powers of the sky.
After one of her risky maneuvers saves a pilot’s life, a Hollywood studio offers Grace a chance to perform at the Expo. She jumps at the opportunity to secure her future. But when a stunt goes wrong, Grace must decide whether Henry, and her life, are worth risking for one final trick.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A devotee of reading and writing from a very young age, Amy Trueblood grew up surrounded by books. As the youngest of five children, she spent most of her time trying to find a quiet place to curl up with her favorite stories. After stints working in entertainment and advertising, she began writing her first manuscript and never looked back.
Her debut novel, NOTHING BUT SKY will be published March 27, 2018 by Flux.
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Have you had a chance to read NOTHING BUT SKY yet? Have your characters pulled you back to a story when you wanted to walk away from it? Have kind rejections given you hope about your writing? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!
Happy Reading,
Jocelyn, Halli, Martina, Charlotte, Anisaa, Erin, Susan, Shelly, Kelly, Laura, Emily, and Lori Ann
