I want to thank Will Granger for being a part of the March MG Madness and for stopping by to answer a few of my questions. Will is the author of the Anabar Series, which includes Anabar's Run and Anabar Rises...
Book #1 of the Anabar series, a parable of the incessant Middle East conflict. Sixteen-year-old Anabar has less than twelve hours to get to the capital city. This is the final test in his training to become a member of the Scouts, a band of ruthless swordsmen sworn to defend their nation. If he doesn't make it, he will have to return to his farm, but that's not the worst thing. His mentor, Omalof, wants the test to be as realistic as possible, so he reports Anabar as a dangerous criminal on the run, and every soldier between him and the capital has orders to find and kill him. ANABAR'S RUN is the story of a young man who dreams of leaving his isolated valley farm. While chasing his dream, he faces mountains and avalanches, bandits and bears, and months of brutal training. While physically tough enough to make it as a Scout, Anabar worries that he might not have the courage to fight and kill when called to do so. He also has serious doubts about the reasons for the coming war that seems inevitable. Despite this, he senses that he is destined to be a Scout, and is determined to make to the capital on time regardless of what he may be forced to do
In this, the second book in the Anabar trilogy, a parable for the conflict in the Middle East, Anabar begins his new life as a Scout and finds excitement, success, and fame. Unfortunately, fame is the one thing a Scout, duty bound to remain secretive, should never achieve. He is then banished to the dangerous border region as war threatens to engulf Semdela and Ricamar. Soldiers capture Anabar and send him to prison, an event that ultimately leads him to the arms of Princess Astrida. In the end, Anabar faces his most difficult decision: whether to perform his duty as a Scout, to seek the love of Astrida, or to risk everything to try to bring peace to the land
Q.What three words best describe your MG books in the Anabar Saga?
Adventure, inspiring, exciting
Q. In one sentence, tell readers why they should read your saga…c’mon, really sell it!
My Anabar saga is the story of 16-year-old Anabar, who leaves home to join the Scouts, and while he is physically tough enough to make it as a Scout, he worries about the coming war and wonders if he will have the courage to fight when called to do so.
Q. Now, using as many sentences as you’d like, could you tell us a bit more about the Anabar Saga?
Anabar's Run, a parable for the conflict in the Middle East, is the story of a young man who dreams of leaving his isolated valley farm. While chasing his dream, he faces mountains and avalanches, bandits and bears, and months of brutal training. While physically tough enough to make it as a Scout, Anabar worries that he might not have the courage to fight and kill when called to do so. He also has serious doubts about the reasons for the coming war that seems inevitable. Despite this, he senses that he is destined to be a Scout, and is determined to make to the capital on time regardless of what he may be forced to do.
In Anabar Rises, book #2 of the series, Anabar begins his new life as a Scout and finds excitement, success, and fame. Unfortunately, fame is the one thing a Scout, duty bound to remain secretive, should never achieve. He is then banished to the dangerous border region as war threatens to engulf Semdela and Ricamar. Soldiers capture Anabar and send him to prison, an event that ultimately leads him to the arms of Princess Astrida. In the end, Anabar faces his most difficult decision: whether to perform his duty as a Scout, to seek the love of Astrida, or to risk everything to try to bring peace to the land.
Q. Why Middle Grade Fiction…why did you choose to write MG fiction and what do you love best about reading and writing MG?
I did not set out to write my Anabar books specifically for a MG age group. Instead, I had the story in mind, after writing the first two books, they seemed to be best suited for MG readers.
Q. Why do you think MG appeals to such a wide audience, from very young readers to adults like you and I?
The MG years are so important to a child's development as a reader. Those are the ages when children start choosing genres and books on their own, and when parents allow them to read on their own. Therefore, MG books are especially important to children's development as independent thinkers, so it is critical that they find inspiring, safe books.
Q. What’s your current favorite MG book? Your favorite MG book of all time?
The Call of the Wild is definitely my favorite MG book and is one of my favorite books regardless of genre.
Q. If you could magically transport yourself into any made up MG/YA world, which would it be? What would you do there?
I would love to visit Willy Wonka's chocolate factory and sample everything. I once toured a chocolate factory in Switzerland, and it had secure areas that visitors were not allowed to enter, and that reminded me of Wonka's factory in Charles and the Chocolate Factory.
Q.Who’s your favorite MG villain…who do you just love to hate or hate to love?
Captain Hook from Peter Pan is my favorite villain. He is mean and a bit silly, and therefore not too frightening for young children.
Q. Your Anabar Saga tells the story of your character Anabar, a strong hero...who are some of your favorite MG/YA male heroes?
I really like Hagrid in the Harry Potter series. Despite his size and physical strength, he does not have the magical ability of the other characters, but still acts heroically. I also like Brian from the book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and how he manages to survive in the wilderness on his own.
Q. If you were to create/bake a cupcake inspired by the Anabar Saga, what flavor would it be, or what would it taste like, and what would you call your tasty masterpiece?
Be sure to stop by the March MG Madness home post and enter the big month long giveaway to win a box of MG books and swag! You can earn extra entries in the big giveaway by answering a question whose answer can be found in the interview above...go HERE to enter
Purchase: AmazonWill Granger was born near Pittsburgh, PA and grew up in New Jersey and Geneva, Switzerland. He spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he was able to travel around the world. Scenes from his travels appear throughout his books. He also attended James Madison University and earned his MA in Language Arts Education from the University of Central Florida. Will's Anabar's Run is the first book in his three-part Anabar saga, and the second book, Anabar Rises, is also complete and available on Amazon.com. Will has also written three short horror stories, Vampire Truths, The Deadly Path and Gladitorium Immortuos, and all are for sale on Amazon.com. Will Granger and his family live on the East Coast of Florida. When he isn't writing or teaching, he goes to church, goes sailing and fishing, and enjoys living close enough to Orlando to have an annual pass to Disney World.
Great interview!! I don't know that this is a book for me, but it does sound interesting.
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