THE ART OF BREAKING THINGS, by Laura Sibson, Viking, June 2019

#YADebut2019 #MagicMirror

Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for more VCFA looooove and welcome the lovely Laura Sibson, the June 2012 graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children and Young Adults program (The Secret Gardeners class.) Laura is the author of The Art of Breaking Things, a YA contemporary romance featuring a girl who falls for her best friend, while dealing with deep personal trauma. The book is forthcoming from Viking this June.

Here is a bit more of a summary from Goodreads:

“When her mom’s ex-boyfriend slithers his way back into her family, it’s all Skye can do to keep the walls of her world from crumbling. Her family has no idea Skye has been guarding a dark secret about her past–about him–and she never thought she would have to face him again. She knows she has to get away from him at all costs. But how can she abandon [her little sister] Emma? Skye’s heart is torn between escaping the man who hurt her years ago and protecting her loved ones from the monster in their midst. Running away from her fears isn’t an option. To save her sister–and herself–she’ll have to break all the rules.”

Laura, thank you for being here. Was this your first manuscript? 

The Art of Breaking Things is my third completed manuscript. I completed my first manuscript – a fantasy about two sisters who realize that they are witches – ten years ago. Writing that manuscript was fun, but I realized I had a lot to learn about craft. I started at Vermont College of Fine Arts in July 2010, which was life-changing. It was the first place where I finally felt that I’d found my people. The second manuscript – about a girl who, after her mom dies, fights her uncle for the right to remain in her childhood home – was written during my last semester at VCFA under the guidance of Martine Leavitt. Well, a bare bones draft was completed in that semester. It needed a lot more meat on the bones. I queried agents for that one but didn’t get many nibbles. To be honest, I was pretty discouraged at that point. I worked on another fantasy idea for a while before starting The Art of Breaking Things.

How long was the writing process for this book?

The length of time it took to complete The Art of Breaking Things is a bit convoluted. It took me about 18 months to write, revise and polish to the point where I felt it was good enough to query agents. But I did another revision in the middle of the query process. In fact, I think the querying took longer than the writing of the manuscript!

It’s so often like that, isn’t it? What was the most fun moment or your favorite part of writing this story?

Definitely writing the parts with Skye and Ben. Skye is not afraid of her attraction to boys, except when it comes to her best guy friend. Writing their scenes, when it’s clear that they are falling for one another and won’t admit it, was my absolute favorite part of the writing process. But I also loved writing about how Skye sees the world through her art. And writing the banter between Skye and her friend Luisa was really fun. I credit my editor with guiding me to make all of those areas truly shine.

Were any parts of this story based on your own life experiences?

Yes, I was initially inspired to write this story based on something that happened to me when I was young. I didn’t know how to talk about what had happened at that time. This book is fiction; it is not my story. But by writing the book, I hope to give a voice – and some hope — to girls who are trying to process a trauma and to their friends who are bearing witness.

Thank you for sharing that, Laura. I understand completely. Which part of your book are you most proud of or excited about: can you hint at it and tease us? 

I feel proud of the work that I put into this book to make it as emotionally authentic as possible in terms of the trauma that Skye faces while also ensuring that while some of Skye’s actions and experiences might break your heart, she’ll also help you mend by the end of the story. I hope that readers will be excited by the aspects of the story that excite me – Skye’s relationships with the people she loves, the music and art (and kissing!) that infuse the story and Skye’s own fierceness as a girl in the world.

Okay, reader, you have been forewarned. 

Thank you so much, Laura. I cannot wait to read it! As part of our giveaway,  Laura will send a copy of this book to one of our winners as soon as it becomes available in June.

Note: this story is not available for a giveaway at this time. But please be on the lookout in June and buy yourself a copy!

Please spread the love and share with friends! Just two more days of the giveaway contest left!!!

Love,

Katia

Remember, to enter the contest (and to keep entering it this week):

1. One entry: Comment on this blog, and I will enter your name once for every comment during the week of the contest.
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