Welcome to A Dash of YA

We are just four writers who happened to meet up because the cosmos thought it was a good idea. We thought up A Dash of YA because we all seem to dabble in all things Young Adult. On here you are going to find interviews from some awesome authors, great giveaways to fill up your book shelves and tips to make your manuscript sparkle, reviews, recommendations and a dash of everything in between.

For our first post, we thought we would tell you a little bit about ourselves. Though our bios are posted under Meet the Dashers, we thought it might be fun to answer a few book related questions.  

What is your favorite book/series?

Erica: Amanda Hocking's Trylle Trilogy is my current favorite (it changes from time to time!)

Michelle: The Vampire Academy series -I love vampires.

Komal: There are so many, but I really love the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. It's been my favourite series since I was 12.

Molli: The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It has absolutely everything, including action, romance, sci-fi and amazing characters.

Who is your favorite author?

Erica: Abbi Glines (though Richelle Mead and Amanda Hocking are tied for #2)

Michelle: Neal Shusterman is a big inspiration and Richelle Mead and Harper Lee are fabulous in my book too. I do enjoy Kathleen Woodiwiss-She's who first tipped me off to romance when I was 15-what was my mother thinking letting me read her?

Komal: Kurt Vonnnegut, Emily Bronte, Leo Tolstoy, and so many more! My favourite YA authors are Tammara Webber and Abbi Glines.

Molli: YA: Leigh Bardugo, Kathleen Peacock and Myra McEntire. (I can't choose!) Adult: Jodi Picoult

Who is your “Book Boyfriend”?

Erica: Tough one! Probably Loki Staad from the Trylle trilogy though Daemon Black is awfully tempting...

Michelle: Daemon Black-but honestly I'm a fictional floozy-I typically date them all.

Komal: Just one? I have a whole harem of them! Let's go with Dimitri Belikov from the Vampire Academy series and, of course, Daemon Black from the Lux series (although, I'll have to fight Erica and Michelle for him).

Molli: I have to choose?! Gale Hawthorne is my book boyfriend FOREVER but I'm also quite inlove with Kyle Harper from Hemlock.


Which book do you wish you could be a character in?

Erica: Honestly, probably Pride and Prejudice though I know that's not really a YA book. I want to wear the dresses and go to the balls. And marry a Mr. Darcy of course.

Michelle: Tiger's Curse - I love the mythology in that book and think the adventure would be amazing!

Komal: Harry Potter! Who wouldn't want to go to Diagon Alley, Hogwarts and Hogsmeade?

Molli: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I'd love to be in Paris, as Anna saw it.

Why did you start blogging?

Erica: I started my personal blog as a way to keep our family up to date on our growing family. Over the years it sort of transformed into my own personal little think space where I would rave about a new book I loved, but it is still mostly about my little blondies.

Michelle: My friend Lauren started one and I thought "Hey, that could be fun" and I think I came up with a lame name, and posted about a bunch of random things. I then discovered book bloggers and was like "OMG! I found my destiny!" and have been a book blogger ever since.

Komal: I started my blog on Blogger around 2005, but it didn't really go anywhere. After trying to blog again on Tumblr and Livejournal, I found my way back to Blogger because of the AMAZING community of authors, writers and bloggers on here! I really just wanted to network and socialise, and meet people with similar interests to mine!

Molli: A good friend (Suz at A Soul Unsung) had just started hers. I felt like I NEEDED a place to geek out properly about my favorite books, characters, and authors. I never expected to find this huge, amazing community, but I did, and I've never felt more at home. Now I can't imagine my life without blogging!

What other hobbies do you have besides reading?

Erica: When I am not reading YA books, I am trying to write them! Or knitting scarfs. I'm a nerd.

Michelle: I do a lot of writing. I teach, so that consumes a lot of my time. I also am a dog lover so I'm typically somewhere being drooled on by my mastiff and collie. Like Erica-I'm a nerd. :)

Komal: Self-proclaimed nerd/geek here! In my spare time, I play video games, watch movies from the 80's/90's, read comic books, work on my stories, and I love baking! Also, I love spending time with my three Siberian Huskies (and three cats)!

Molli: I write YA contemporary with one of my best friends, and I also adore hanging out with friends, shopping and going to football games.

Why do you love YA?

Erica: I'm a romantic at heart. I love reading about "first loves" and that is a pretty common theme in YA books. I love the excitement that comes with falling in love for the first time.

Michelle: Maybe it's because I refuse to let go of my teen years? *coughs 28 yrs old cough* Maybe it's because I teach high school English so I have to up on reading? Maybe because I love how authors capture the strong wills of teenagers, the first loves, and up against all odds -whether apocolpytic or teen queen bully.

Komal: As a child/teenager I used to read the adult genre, and as an adult I read Young Adult. I think it's because YA books revolve around romance, mistakes, and growing up, and YA authors are really able to capture that essence of being a teenager. Plus, I'm a sucker for characters like Daemon Black!

Molli: YA is so heartfelt, and it's awesome to see so many brave authors out there who are writing about what matters. I find a lot of authentic characters and relationships in YA novels, not to mention some swoon-worthy romances.

Thanks for stopping by on our launch day! We hope you stop by and visit us, get to know us, and find some good information here at A Dash Of YA.