Hello everyone! Welcome back to another Saturday Spotlight where we share interviews with amazing Authors about their work
Today we are thrilled to welcome Rebecca Schaeffer to the blog to discuss her Market of Monsters Trilogy.
About the Book
When Villains Rise by Rebecca SchaefferPublished by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 8, 2020
Pages: 384
Goodreads
Dexter meets Victoria Schwab in this dark and compelling fantasy about a girl who is determined to take down the black market once and for all in the conclusion to the trilogy that started with the critically acclaimed Not Even Bones.
Nita finally has Fabricio, the boy who betrayed her to the black market, within her grasp. But when proof that Kovit’s a zannie—a monster who eats pain in order to survive—is leaked to the world, Nita must reevalute her plans. With enemies closing in on all sides, the only way out is for Nita and Kovit to take on the most dangerous man in the world: Fabricio’s father. He protects the secrets of the monsters who run the black market. Stealing those secrets could be the one thing that stands between Nita and Kovit and certain death in the thrilling conclusion to the trilogy that began with the critically acclaimed Not Even Bones.
About the Author
Rebecca Schaeffer was born and raised in the Canadian prairies. Her itchy feet took her far from home. You can find her sitting in a cafe on the other side of the world, writing about villains, antiheroes, and morally ambiguous characters. She is the author of Not Even Bones, the first in a dark YA fantasy trilogy.
rschaefferbooks.com
Twitter: @rrschaeffer.
Instagram: @rebecca_schaeffer
The Intwerview
It has been fascinating watching the growth of characters like Nita and Kovit grow throughout the trilogy. Did you always know how you wanted their character arcs to go or did it come to you as you wrote?
Rebecca: I always knew the direction their character arcs would go, though some of the specific beats evolved along the way.
There is quite a bit of body horror in the trilogy. Can you share what sparked your love of horror?
Rebecca: Honestly, i have no idea! I’ve just always loved creepy things.
Where did the inspiration for the different monsters come from? If you could have an unnatural ability which ability would you like to have?
Rebecca: Many of the monsters are based on various myths, but twisted. Only a few are completely from my own imagination XD I really enjoyed exploring uglier interpretations of myths, and twisting things we accepted as good into something creepy.
Many of the characters are so complex. Was it challenging to write such morallly gray characters?
Rebecca: I actually find writing ‘good’ people significantly more difficult. I’m a character driven reader, and I find any more traditional heroes boring and unrelatable. Why would you save the world when there’s nothing in it for you? Jump in front of a bus to save a stranger? Very few people are that altruistic. I find morally grey and villainous characters to be far more complex and interesting, and honestly, simply more human and real.
Since When Villains Rise marks the end of the Market of Monsters trilogy can you give us and our readers any hints about what’s next?
Rebecca: Alas, no hints can be given.
The book is dark- which we absolutely loved- did you always know that you wanted the series to be so dark? Do you have any tips or tricks to get you into the right head space to write?
Rebecca: I love dark series, and I absolutely always wanted to write this series dark. And nope, no tricks, I just sat down and wrote!
Which authors inspire your writing the most? Anyone you would love to co author a book with? Any genres you would love to try writing outside of sci-fi/horror
Rebecca: I try not to have author inspirations-it leads to putting people on a pedestal and they will inevitably disappoint because they’re only human. I’d much rather coauthor a book with a friend than someone famous though-writing is a job and you need to have the same work style to write something together. And I’d love to write across the age groups in science fiction, fantasy, thriller and horror.
Since When Villains Rise marks the end of the Market of Monsters trilogy can you give us and our readers any hints about what’s next?
Rebecca: For many years. Since i was maybe ten or eleven. Some of my early book loves were Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, the Pendragon series by DJ MacHale, and Dragon’s Bait by Vivian Vande Velde.
Do you have any reading or writing quirks?
Rebecca: I only read one book at a time because i don’t like too many stories in my head, but I like to write multiple projects at a time because I burn out on just one too easily.
When you are not writing (or reading) what do you enjoy doing?
Rebecca: Travelling, though there hasn’t been much of that in covid XD
Rapid Fire Questions
Coffee or tea? Tea
Dogs or cats? Cats
Favorite place to read? Anywhere with a cat behind my knees.
What types of books are in your reading wheelhouse? Scifi, fantasy, thriller, middle grade, young adult, horror, the occasional mystery, interesting nonfiction…there’s not a lot i won’t read if it piques my interest.
What are some 2020/2021 releases you are excited about? For 2020, I’m really excited to read Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia. For 2021 I’m excited for the release of The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes and Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao.
What do you hope readers will take away from The Market of Monsters trilogy? I hope they’ll have fun! Honestly the primary goal of these books is entertainment, if they take something more out of it, that’s even better, but as long as they enjoy themselves i’m happy.
Lastly, where can our readers learn more about you and your books? Folow me on insta @rebecca_schaeffer or check out my website at rschaefferbooks.com
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