We’re delighted to welcome debut YA author Rebecca Carpenter to the shelves today. Her contemporary science fiction Butterfly Bones has just been released and is certainly making waves with reviewers. Its themes are dark, deep, and haunting, but Rebecca isn’t afraid to tackle life’s tough issues.

Rebecca, tell us about your background. How did you come to be a writer? Did you excel in English at school?

I’ve always loved writing. English was my best and favourite subject. I started writing poetry at a young age, followed by stories and song lyrics. As a teenager, I loved keeping a diary. But I didn’t become serious about writing until 2011 when I decided to write a screenplay. Two screenplays later, I wrote my memoir, The Total Deconstruction of Chloe Wilson, a young adult story about my teen pregnancy. Butterfly Bones, as well as six picture books and a middle grade novel, have since followed.

Butterfly Bones is an intense and haunting read; the main character really does have a terrible time with bullying on top of having a bone disorder. Can you tell us what made you choose such traumatic themes? And the butterflies and science – is this something you’re simply interested in?

I chose topics that are difficult, yet real. Bullying is a real problem for many teens, and those with physical or mental disabilities are at even more risk of being singled out for these differences. And honestly, this is the story that Bethany told me to write. As far as the butterflies and science, the unit I teach my pre-kindergarten class about caterpillars and butterflies is one of my favourites. The concept of starting as one thing – a larva – and then through tumultuous changes metamorphosing into an insect is truly miraculous. Applying this concept to people became something I had to attempt in my writing. I love science. Again, teaching young children, one of the best parts of my job is to explore and experiment with all kinds of things, helping my students to develop a love and respect for nature and the world around us.

The book has been described by a lot of readers as utterly unique. How on earth did you come up with such an unusual storyline?

It literally came to me from a song by The Cure, ‘Caterpillar’. I knew as soon as it came to me that I had to write it. Matter of fact, I felt driven in a way I had never felt before. I was constantly writing notes all over the place as the story developed and poured from me. I have pages upon pages of scrap paper with first draft ideas scribbled on them. I finally got smarter and bought a bunch of spiral notebooks to keep at work, home, and even my vehicle so I could better organize my thoughts.

Has becoming a published author been easy? How has the experience been for you so far?

Becoming a published author has been a five-year endeavour of revisions and tears. But the journey has made me a better writer and made Butterfly Bones a strong young adult novel.

Butterfly Bones is the first in the Metamorphosis series. When should fans expect book two? It’s well documented that writing the second book in a series can be terrifying and difficult; how have you found writing the sequel?

I’m hoping to have book two finished and ready for my editor by May, 2017. But I’ll push for earlier if possible. Writing the sequel has been difficult in the fact that I have to start all over in my writing, acting as if no one has read the first book, or that the first book even exists. Weaving the important backstory so the reader understands what’s happening is tricky. If I add too much at a time, it becomes an info dump. But not enough and the reader might be confused. And since the character doesn’t go through metamorphosis in this book, I have to dig deep to find another source of science fiction. But one of the joys of this story has been writing in multi POV, and one of the characters is told in free verse. I love poetry, and so this has been a pure delight to write.

They say now that a writer’s job is no longer just about the writing. Do you agree? What kinds of things have you done to market your book and receive reviews?

It’s all about the marketing. Writing is the easy part. I seriously think just as many writing workshops should focus on marketing as they do on craft. I don’t think any new author is ready for the work that marketing requires. The biggest thing has been creating my author brand and being active on social media. Building an audience takes time … and tonnes of patience.

What kind of books do you like to read in your free time? Any favourites? Any authors who have particularly inspired you and your writing?

I don’t have a favorite genre. But I do love to read YA. But it must be well written or I move on to something else. Due to my passion for working with children, I mostly read children’s books. Which I love. Shell Silverstein and Jan Brett are two of my favourite children’s authors. I also love a good mystery/thriller. Defending Jacob by William Landay has become my favourite thriller. I collect books about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and I inherited a large collection of books on all the American presidents that I hope to read some day.

What’s a typical day for you? How and when do you fit in writing? Do you write in one particular spot or do you like to move around? Where do you find inspiration?

Weekdays I awaken at 5:15 a.m. and am off to start my job of running a large childcare/preschool by 6:15. I work until 5:45 p.m. and then I’m home for dinner with my hubby. Evenings are spent reading submissions for a small press, editing manuscripts for clients, or writing. Then it’s off to bed and it starts all over again. Weekends I do as much writing as possible, but if I have an editing job, it takes precedence and requires most of that time.

For those who are pursuing the dream of publication, what advice might you offer them?

Never give up. Keep writing. Keep reading in the genre that you’re writing. And always look for opportunities to learn and hone your craft. It took me five years to publish Butterfly Bones – five years of learning how to be a better writer and how to write a stronger story.

What other talents do you have? Any party tricks you can tell us about? How about the best day of your life?

I’m a great cook and love to bake. My husband calls me his “gourmet chef”. I collect cook books and get excited about trying new recipes. Homemade marinara sauce is one of my trademarks. I enjoy crafts like wreath making, and I dabble in pencil sketches. I took tap dance as a child and like to strap on a pair of tap shoes and drive my hubby crazy with all the noise. The best day of my life was the day I married my husband, Cory. He makes my life interesting and makes me laugh every day. He’s my best friend and I’m sure we have many best days ahead of us.

If you want to find out more about Rebecca and her writing check out her website, and of course, grab a copy of Butterfly Bones whilst you’re cruising the internet – not only is it well worth the read, but if you buy a copy in December, the publisher will enter you in a draw to win a Kindle!