This week YA Author Rebecca Mahoney took over our Twitter as a part of our weekly Thursday Twitter Takeover. Rebecca Mahoney is the author of The Memory Eater. (See YEM’s interview with Rebecca Mahoney here.) See highlights from the takeover below.
Tonight I’ll be talking a bit about some of my firsts, about the industry, books, and storytelling in general. If you have any questions for me, shout them out!
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
(I think a bound copy might still exist somewhere.)
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
First book I fell in love with: a few that are too long ago to remember (I had an EXCELLENT picture book collection) but if anyone here is an old school horror fan, THE DOLLHOUSE MURDERS blew my 8-year-old mind. I already loved horror, but that sealed the deal. #YAauthortakeover
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
First book I fell in love with: a few that are too long ago to remember (I had an EXCELLENT picture book collection) but if anyone here is an old school horror fan, THE DOLLHOUSE MURDERS blew my 8-year-old mind. I already loved horror, but that sealed the deal. #YAauthortakeover
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
I’d love to hear from some of you: what’s a book that really changed your idea of what writing could be?
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
Let’s talk a bit about the industry! My first rejection was actually my first TWO rejections, since they showed up with the exact same timestamps. As it often does, it took a nice little overhaul of my query letter for me to start getting requests. #YAauthortakeover
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
Jumping from some bad news to good news: my first review ever (that I’m aware of!) was from the amazing @KatherineNzr, who is now manager at @PorterSqBoston! Both Katherine and the store are incredible and their support is everything. (Hi guys! It’s Rebecca!) #YAauthortakeover
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
Just to clarify, winter is also a horror season. Fall is obviously a horror season. Spring is a bit of a stretch, but I think we can make it work. #YAauthortakeover
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
I planned my first launch like some people plan their weddings, and while it was tough to accept the change, I got to have so many far-flung friends and family there virtually. (And I got to have my in-person launch for my second book last spring!) #YAauthortakeover
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
Ah, I missed your last question!! I gravitate toward paranormal horror, especially if it’s a character study. But stylized slashers are having a renaissance in YA and I’m very interested to read some! YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE TONIGHT by Kalynn Bayron is first on my list.
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
This is a GREAT question. I think of good scares like a set piece, the way that good jokes are a set piece: you need setup and payoff, tension and release. (This is why I think comedians write GREAT horror.) 1/2 #YAauthortakeover https://t.co/HDRSgGaMdb
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
Coming back to firsts as we head towards the end of my takeover! I got my first letter from a teen reader a few months ago, which was the delight of my LIFE. They had some questions about the ending, which is my favorite kind of letter to get. #YAauthortakeover
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
The first book I think I ever signed was for my delightful friend Kendra, who was the first person I ever gave one of my advance reader copies to. I think Kendra still had Google Alerts set up for me, for which I owe her my life. #YAauthortakeover
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
And finally, my very first beta reader: my mom. Thanks for catching all my typos, @ellen_mahoney ❤️❤️❤️
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
That’s it from me tonight! Thank you all for joining me for my first (!!) Twitter takeover. You can catch me over on @cafecliche in my natural habitat! #YAauthortakeover
— RINA stan (@YoungEntmag) June 30, 2023
