This week YA author Jessica Vitalis took over our Twitter as a part of our weekly Thursday Twitter Takeover. Jessica Vitalis is the author of The Wolf’s Curse. (See YEM’s interview with Jessica Vitalis here.) See highlights from the takeover below.
👋Jessica Vitalis here for a #YAAuthorTakeover! THE WOLF'S CURSE is a Grim Reaper retelling with a couple of twists––where traditional mythology often casts the Reaper as a male, she’s female in my book. Oh, and she’s also a wolf. @harperstacks @booksforwardpr @jessicavitalis pic.twitter.com/g2VYySijBf
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
I threw my publishers a curve ball when I asked them not to include a real wolf on the cover, but they hit it out of the park. #YAAuthorTakeover #TheWolfsCurse @GreenwillowBook @balbusso_twins pic.twitter.com/dQsLTaqc1Z
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
THE BOOK THIEF inspired me to write a novel with Death as an omniscient narrator. Do you have any favorite books with omniscient narrators? #YAAuthorTakeover #TheWolfsCurse pic.twitter.com/559537C7XY
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
It wasn’t until after I wrote an entire draft that I realized my narrator wasn’t actually Death. She was Death’s courier, and she was desperate to find someone to take her job. #YAAuthorTakeOver
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
THE WOLF’S CURSE also has echoes of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This depiction of the story is by Francis Barlow from 1687. Do you prefer original fairy tales or do you like retellings better? #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/J8KNvCgaBH
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
THE WOLF’S CURSE takes place in a village called Bouge-by-the-Sea; it was inspired by my year as an exchange student in a German fishing village. #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/nRvcJODK7M
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
I’d returned from a vacation in France shortly before writing the book, which also informed the setting. Where are your favorite places to travel? #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/DMP36gyDhJ
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
If THE WOLF’S CURSE makes it to the big screen, I’d love to see it animated a la Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
People often ask if I identify more with the wolf, Gauge, or Roux. I’m equal parts all three: snarky, sweet, and practical. #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/mwjCPDwXVd
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
Creating the death rituals in #TheWolfsCurse was a blast. The superstitious villagers believe that departed souls need feathers to fly up into the Sea in the Sky, where they’ll sail into eternity. #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/ZPZ9hlDXgz
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
Confession time: one of my author crushes is definitely Tahereh Mafi—WHICHWOOD is such a gorgeous book and Tahereh herself is a fashion icon (if you don’t follow her on IG, you’re missing out!). #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/qBRjDPamDi
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
This little girl never dreamed that she’d grow up to be an author! (Can anyone identify the book I'm reading?) #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/WJ9jqOQrXl
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
We only have one hour left to chat! If you have any writing or book related questions, shoot them my way! #YAAuthorTakeover @jessicavitalis
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
This is my work space. Where do you do your best creative work? #YAAuthorTakeover #WritingCommunity pic.twitter.com/tWO1Yv0zu8
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
These are my assistants, Apollo (left) and Athena (right). They aren’t very helpful with my writing, but they are great moral support. #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/KYmOlUYq3C
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
Fun Fact: I wrote 6 books over 13 years before landing my first book deal. #YAAuthorTakeover https://t.co/n6l0Zr8N8g
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
My first attempt at a book was a memoir. It wasn’t until I read KIT’S WILDERNESS by @davidjalmond that I was inspired to try my hand at writing for a younger audience. #YAAuthorTakeover #kidlit #inspiration pic.twitter.com/sI9UiIigEl
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
“Write what you know” is advice often given to writers. THE WOLF’S CURSE may not seem like anything I know (I’ve never been a wolf—or death’s courier), but I channeled my own fear and grief into the story. #YAAuthorTakeover #writetip https://t.co/KdTHB0hXR5
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
My research for THE WOLF’S CURSE included studying death rituals around the world, life in medieval/renaissance times, and different types of knots (the latter of which I never quite got the hang of). #YAAuthorTakeover #BookTwitter #research pic.twitter.com/iBClZYKHHH
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
THE WOLF’S CURSE opens with a short prologue. What are some of your favorite books with prologues? #YAAuthorTakeover #Prologue #BookTwitter #booklovers #bookworms pic.twitter.com/njotu0d9bH
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
Fun fact: I wrote the first draft of THE WOLF’S CURSE in 30 days. Then I threw the entire thing out and started over. #YAAuthorTakeover #TrueStory #writerslife
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
Fun fact: The first book I ever wrote was called The Girl Who Changed her Name. (The main character switched from Jessica to Bianca.) #YAAuthorTakeover #writerslife pic.twitter.com/MdWYDKAmxo
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
Fun fact: I run a program called Magic in the Middle; it’s a series of free monthly recorded book talks to help readers learn about new books. You can learn more at https://t.co/gWxLnu54ND #YAAuthorTakeover #mglit #fantasybooks
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
Following my heart led me on this wonderful publishing journey! (#TheWolfsCurse hits shelves 9/21—preorders available now at all your favorite book retailers.) #YAAuthorTakeover #TheWolfsCurse pic.twitter.com/EI5nGFNsRO
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
That’s a wrap, but you can always find me at @jessicavitalis. My warmest thanks to Young Entertainment Magazine for having me! #YAAuthorTakeover #TheWolfsCurse pic.twitter.com/ZvkIsL9EZF
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 1, 2021
