Sunday, April 22, 2012

MMGM: "T" IS FOR SARVENAZ TASH - GIVEAWAY & AUTHOR INTERVIEW

- Win STARTERS signed by author Lissa Price
- Blogging From A to Z Giveaway - Win A $20 Amazon Gift Cerificate



Welcome to Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM), a weekly event hosted by author Shannon Messenger. For a list of other MMGM posts, click HERE.

THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST
by Sarvenza Tash
Walker Childrens
Ages 8 & up
256 pp.

Goldenrod Moram loves nothing better than a good quest. Intrepid, curious, and full of a well-honed sense of adventure, she decides to start her own exploring team fashioned after her idols, the explorers Lewis and Clark, and to map the forest right behind her home. This task is complicated, however, by a series of unique events—a chance encounter with a mysterious old lady has her searching for a legendary blue rose. Another encounter lands her in the middle of a ragtag gang of brilliant troublemakers. And when she stumbles upon none other than the ghost of Meriwether Lewis himself, Goldenrod knows this will be anything but an ordinary summer . . . or an ordinary quest.

The Mapmaker and the Ghost is a brand new middle grade novel by debut author Sarvenaz Tash. It is being released TODAY! Sarvenaz received a BFA in Film & Television from NYU where she concentrated on screenwriting. She has been a semi-finalist and quarter-finalist in several major screenwriting competitions and is also an Emmy and Webby Award-winning writer/editor who has written on the digital side for both Bravo and MTV. Sarvenaz lives in Brooklyn, NY. She was gracious enough to share some thoughts with us today about books. At the end, find out how to win a copy of her book.



1)      Tell about your book in one sentence.

A simple decision to map a forest lands 11-year-old Goldenrod in the midst of a true blue adventure involving a gang of brilliant troublemakers, a mysterious and very ugly old lady, and an exceedingly unexpected—and long dead—questmaster. 

 2)      What inspired you to write this story?

I really wanted to write a book that I would have loved to read as a kid and I was a huge fan of Roald Dahl and adventure stories growing up. I was also inspired by The Goonies, especially the dynamics between the large cast of characters and the very kid-friendly humor.

3)      Tell us a little about your road to publication.

I went to film school and studied screenwriting in college, but I always knew I also wanted to try my hand at writing novels – especially for kids. A few years out of college, I decided to take a few classes to learn how to do that and I started working on Mapmaker. About 5 years and 26 drafts later…it was accepted for publication.

 4)   What books did you enjoy reading as a kid?

I read a lot of Beverly Cleary, Baby-Sitters Club, Roald Dahl and Mary Downing Hahn. I also loved Encyclopedia Brown and anything with a good mystery at the heart of it (like my beloved The Westing Game). I read a lot as a kid; it was always my favorite form of escapism.

5) What books do you enjoy reading now?

Anything really. I prefer fiction to non-fiction but I will pretty much read any genre as long as the story and writing grip me. Though, sometimes, scary books give me vivid nightmares and they might end up in the freezer for a night or two a la Joey Tribbiani.

6)      What can we expect from you in the future?

More books hopefully! I’m working on a couple of MG and a YA novel right now.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Sarvenaz has graciously offered a copy of her book to one lucky winner. 
To enter, just post a comment below and include your email address so I can contact you if you win. (U.S. only please.) This giveaway will run until May 7th


44 comments:

  1. So great to meet you! New follower here. I’m enjoying reading my fellow “A to Z”ers. I look forward to visiting again.

    Sylvia
    http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/

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    1. Welcome Sylvia! I'm on my way to your blog right now.

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  2. Your site looks awesome! Love the changes. I have to read this book if it is inspired by the Goonies! Love that.- Cortney

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  3. This is a book I MUST read. Thank you for the chance to win a copy (although I didn't see specific directions for entering. Did I miss them?). Thank you for the interview. Five years and 26 drafts--that's a story all its own.

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    1. Ooops! Thanks for pointing that out. I'm on it! Please just include your email in a comment so I can contact you if you win. Thanks.

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    2. Thanks, Barbara! It is a story. Though I'm not sure how interesting of a story -- hair pulling and temper tantrums at my laptop probably wouldn't make for a very compelling tale.

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  4. sounds like a terrific book! and what a lovely interview. summing up a book in once sentence is a true talent!!

    i have a MMGM giveaway this week too:
    http://bit.ly/I49bWY

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  5. Sounds like a very good book! Great interview and thanks for the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

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  6. So excited about your book Sarvenza. And it's inspiring to know that if I keep on working on my drafts of my manuscript, it might get accepted one day. I'd love to win your book. Happy Release Day!

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    1. Thanks, Natalie! Perseverance is definitely 90% of the battle so keep on keeping on!

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  7. This sounds like a great book I would love to win it!
    danasquare3@aol.com

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  8. +JMJ+

    I'm not eligible for the giveaway, but I wanted to say that Sarvenza Tash seems like a writer after my own heart. Mentioning The Goonies, The Baby-sitters Club, Encyclopedia Brown, AND The Westing Game in a single interview??? I totally have to check her books out now! =D

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  9. Hey, we study Lewis and Clark in 5th grade. Gotta get this book!

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    1. Awesome! They were a lot of fun to research and write about.

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  10. Maps, adventure, quests, and fantasy sounds like a great book.

    hg195 at yahoo dot com

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  11. I loved this interview and have been so excited to read this book! What a great opportunity to win a copy - thank you :) temrebeltz(at)hotmail(dot)com.

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    1. Thanks, Temre! And thanks to Laurisa for the fantastic questions.

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  12. I'm excited that Ms. Tash's book is finally released today! Look forward to reading it and sharing it with my daughter. A very ugly old lady hmmm....

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  13. I love Maps so I was instantly drawn to this book. Really looking forward to this adventure!!!

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

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  14. Cool interview. I'm really looking forward to reading Mapmaker!

    Billy
    unpredictabilly at gmail dot com

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  15. Great interview and I hope to read this book soon! I love to hear the background of a story, thanks to Sarvenaz for sharing! Thanks also for the giveaway.
    jenberger75 at yahoo dot com

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  16. I'm ready for an adventure!
    furtivespy at Gmail

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  17. Congratulations, Sarvenaz! The book sounds like it will be perfect for the middle-schoolers. Thanks for giving us older folk a chance to win it and preview it for those kids!
    puttputt1198eve at comcast dot net

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  18. thanks for the great interview! any writing inspired by both the goonies and roald dahl is something that has to be great and 5 years and 26 drafts? wow that is amazing. can't wait to read about goldenrod : )

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  19. This sounds like something my daughter would love to read. She loves adventure tales.

    alison.fees(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. Thanks for the interview. I love middle grade adventures. Sounds like a cool book!

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  21. I used to map the 'good guys' and 'bad guys' in my neighborhood, and explore the woods above the house at our next home.
    Wondering if there are any talks of film adaptation? This and May B. are but two that I'd personally love to see on the silver screen!

    mtnsmith at gmail dot com - for sake of drawing.

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  22. What a fun book for my son. Thank you!

    annettekz2 AT yahoo DOT com

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  23. Great "T" post, and the book sounds absolutely wonderful! :-)

    pherlaithiel (at) gmail (dot) com

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  24. Lovely post and even lovelier book. I would love to win this for my grandson.

    NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. I used to adore Encyclopedia Brown. I'd check them out every time my mom took me to the library <3
    Great photo, by the way!

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  26. I love the way the author has made exploring sound so, well, . . . ,adventurous! Perhaps that will encourage some children to take the histories of explorers such as Lewis and Clark as being more than just history! Congratulations on the publication of the book!

    puttputt1198eve@comcast.net

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  27. This sounds good! Thank you for the giveaway!
    mittens0831 at aol dot com

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  28. My son would love this book because he loves adventure themes. I loved reading Encyclopedia Brown, too!

    annettekz2@yahoo.com

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