Real Mermaids blog tour and giveaway!

Welcome to this stop on the Real Mermaids blog tour! I am featuring an interview with the author, Helene Boudreau and hosting a publisher's giveaway for the first 3 books! You can check out my review of book 3- Real Mermaids Don't Wear High Heels here. Fill out the rafflecopter form at the bottom of the post to enter.

The Interview-

1. What inspired you to delve into the world of mermaids?

I grew up surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean so water has always been a huge part of my life. My dad is a lobster fisherman and he’d take us on boat trips from our little island off the coast of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to the mainland where we’d sail through a canal and a boat lock to get to a fresh-water lake. I was always amazed by the purple jellyfish I saw on the ocean side, compared to the white jellyfish on the lake side of the boat lock. I often wondered; did the purple jellyfish know about the white ones and vice versa? And what other mysteries existed in those watery depths? That was the inspiration for my mer-world in the Real Mermaids series.

2. How do you think your books differ from other mermaid books out there?

I think every author brings their own sensibility and style to their writing so I hope that my sense of fun and my personal connection to the ocean comes through in the Real Mermaids series.

3. Please tell me a little about the Real Mermaids series, in your own words?

Jade Baxter is a reluctant part-time mermaid trying to balance her underwater life with the above-water two-legged drama of beginning high school, figuring out the difference between friends and frenemies, and sorting out this whole new-to-her ‘dating’ thing.

4. What inspires you as a writer?

I write exclusively for children and teens at this point and the thing that drives me most is that imaginary reader to whom I’m telling the story. Professional reviews and award nominations are nice but what really keeps me writing is the thought of a kid sneaking my book behind a textbook at school or asking to keep their light on for an extra half hour to finish a chapter before bed.

5. As a child, what were your favorite books?

I’m from a family of ten so books were kind of community property in our house. I remember, though, that my godfather sent me my very own hardcover Trixie Belden for Christmas one year. I cherished that book because it was mine. All mine!

6. If you were on a desert island and could have one book- what would it be and why?

The SAS Survival Handbook: The ultimate guide to surviving anywhere. Because, hey—it’s all about survival!

7. What was your road to publication initially like?

I started writing about seven years ago. My first love is picture books so I wrote several of those and quickly found out they were very difficult to get published. I started writing articles for a kid’s science magazine, which were my first publication credits, then I placed in a few children’s writing contests while I continued to submit my picture book, chapter book, and middle grade manuscripts to publishers. Finally, in 2008, after hundreds of rejections, I received my first publishing contract. Since then, I’ve gone on to publish thirteen more books—and my first picture book is coming out in March!

8. Any advice for aspiring writers out there?

Find a critique group! Honestly, your writing will improve by leaps and bounds by sharing your stories with others and critiquing other people’s work. Other than that, read lots and lots of books and write, write, write and revise, revise, revise. Repeat as necessary.

Connect with the Author:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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