Trick or Treat with Fleur Bradley!

Welcome to #SeasonsOfKidLit, readers! The amazing Fleur Bradly is with us today, talking about her recent middle-grade releases: Midnight at the Barclay Hotel and Daybreak on Raven Island. Filled with mystery and delight, twists and turns, and just the right amount of fright, these books are the perfect read for the season. Want to know more about Fleur and her critically acclaimed novels? Read on...

Q: Hi, Fleur. Thanks so much for joining #SeasonsOfKidLit! I'm thrilled to have you. You are the author of many titles, including Midnight at the Barclay Hotel and Daybreak on Raven Island - your newest releases. Can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to become an MG author?

A: I love writing middle-grade, though I have to admit I kind of stumbled into this category. I wrote short stories and YA for a while first, and only started writing MG at the suggestion of an agent.

The best part about writing MG are the readers. Kids are so honest and still have a

great deal of imagination, which inspires me every day. I post a piece of kid art or a fan

letter near my desk every day, to remind me who the boss is.

Q: What’s the best part about your job as an author?

A: Author visits, hand-down! I love seeing kids, answering questions, and hearing what excites them. Kids inspire me every day.

Q: Midnight at the Barclay Hotel (illustrated by Xavier Bonet) centers around a murder mystery. How cool! What are some things we can expect when reading your book?

A: Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is a classic Agatha Christie style mystery: there are four suspects in a (slightly haunted) hotel, with three kids tasked with solving the murder mystery of who killed Mr. Barclay. The book introduces kids to mysteries and how to

uncover motive, means and opportunity, and gather clues. It was so much fun to write; I got to pour all my love for the mystery genre into Midnight at the Barclay Hotel.

Q: Daybreak on Raven Island, your newest adventure, is filled with even more

surprises and terror. What makes Daybreak on Raven Island the spookiest of all

your titles?

A: For Daybreak on Raven Island, I started with Alcatraz as my inspiration and created the (very haunted) Raven Island. I really used a Hitchcock vibe and focused on investigating paranormal mysteries, and added lots of ghostly folklore—plus, Tori, Noah and Marvin are stuck on this haunted island overnight. It’s the perfect spooky

set-up…

Q: What makes both of these the perfect read for fall?

A: Both Daybreak on Raven Island and Midnight at the Barclay Hotel are mysteries imbued with ghostly tales, so they’re perfect for fall. Mystery and the paranormal are the best combination, I think. I hope readers let me know what they think!

They both sound amazing, Fleur! We can't wait to check out your books!

Q: Would you like to leave a Trick or a Treat for the readers?

A: I’m happy to give away a treat - a signed copy of Daybreak on Raven Island, plus a query letter critique.

How amazing! Thanks so much!

Contest Details: To enter to win one of the two treats mentioned above, comment below and let Fleur know why you're ecstatic to check out her books! Let her know which treat you'd like to win, too! The winners will be announced on or about November 4th.

*Note: Book giveaways will be shipped in the US only.

Reminder: Those who leave a comment on all posts will be eligible to win one (1) of ten (10) Rate Your Story Speed Passes.

About Fleur Bradley:

Fleur Bradley is the author of the (scary) middle-grade mystery Daybreak on Raven Island, and award-winning mystery Midnight at the Barclay Hotel (Viking/Penguin Random House).

Her story The Perfect Alibi appeared in Mystery Writers of America’s middle-grade anthology Super Puzzletastic Mysteries, edited by Chris Grabenstein (HarperCollins).

Fleur regularly does school and Skype visits, as well as librarian and educator conference talks on reaching reluctant readers. Originally from the Netherlands, she now lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and two daughters, and entirely too many rescue animals.

For more about Fleur, check out the below links:

Twitter: @FTBradleyAuthor

Instagram: fleurbradley

Fleur’s website: www.ftbradley.com

To purchase Fleur's books on Amazon, or to leave a review, click here.