Wednesday, January 7, 2009

The 7th Most Awesome YA Book of 2008 is...


The 7th Most Awesome YA Book of 2008 is

"Where Would Cows Hide?"

by D.C. Stewart


One of the books I was introduced to this year that turned out to be a real treat was "Where Would Cows Hide". It is called a Tweener book and if you don't know what that is, it's for people inbetween children and teenagers :-) So think 8-12 year olds and that sounds all good and fine except for one little thing - I loved this book. My mom read this book and she thought it was great. My 12 year old daughter read this book and loved it so much that she insisted her friends read it as well! So I'm just saying that I think it kind of transcends the age barrier. When I was younger I read The Bobbsey Twins, Happy Hollisters, Boxcar Children, etc... and this book is really in the same vein as all of those with the exception of it having a really good spiritual message as well.

Charlie and Brad are twin boys who want to help out their Grandpa when his cows start getting stolen. They manage to come up with some suspects and then they have to figure out how to actually save the cows before they disappear and their Grandpa goes bankrupt. I just loved the characters and following the mystery as it transpired. This book is worth going out of your way to get your hands on!

Now let's meet Denice (D.C.)...


1) Where Would Cows Hide? reads like a tribute to books such as The Bobbsey Twins and Happy Hollisters and is geared toward that tween age group. My daughter (who happens to be in that tween group) would like to know what your inspiration was for this book?


Well, my inspiration for WWCH is a combination of three influences: I found out I was having twins, and wondered what kind of mischief they would get into as they grew up; my husband is a twin, and I've spent years listening to their tales of terrorizing their mother; and my brother and I are VERY close, I grew up as the proverbial tom-boy, and I remembered all the trouble we got into on our ranch that I didn't dare tell my parents about until I was full grown and unable to be grounded for it!


2) It may be geared for tweens but I really enjoyed this book (and I am so NOT a tween, but that's all I'm saying!) and was wondering how you worked the mystery angle of it... like do you figure it out and write the story backwards from there or do parts of it develop as you go?

As strange as it may seem, I don't even think I knew I was working on a mystery. I guess I always thought of it as an adventure, hopefully funny, but the mystery just sort of developed as I went along. And I didn't think it was so much a question of "Who-Dunnit?", as "Do They Get Caught in the End?" I'm very glad the bad guys were caught.

3) Is this intended to be the first in a series or is it a stand alone book?

Not sure about that. I was hoping this would be the first of a five-book series, but I don't know what the publisher is going to do with the second book. We'll just have to wait and see. But I don't think we'll see the last of Brad and Charlie.

4) How do you get inside the heads of 2 tween boys and their little sister - what kind of research do you do to make these characters come alive?

Well, this book really is close to my heart, because it's so close to home. I grew up in a rural farm community. We didn't live on the ranch, but I spent more of my childhood there than at home. Most of my cousins were boys, all the neighborhood kids were boys, so remembering what they were like wasn't a stretch at all. Not to mention my husband is one of four boys, and they have plenty information to share.

5) What made you decide to target the tween audience, based on this book you could definitely write for adults and keep them interested?

I know it probably sounds strange, but when I started this book, Harry Potter was still flying high. I really enjoyed those books, and realized that kids and adults around the world love them, so why not try to write something for a Christian publisher that appealed to tweens, and older, if they were open to reading it. Not that I think my book qualifies as Harry Potter fabulous, but a girl can dream.

6) How can readers find you online and what can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?

You can visit my website at www.dcstewart.net. Though I don't know if the future books will be published, I am planning to finish the Parker Twins books, and I am also working on my first adult book, a romantic comedy.

Thank you so much for naming my book one of your favorites of 2008. I am truly honored!

Denice Stewart

*****************************************************

Okay, readers Denice has offered a copy of Where Would Cows Hide with some extra goodies for our drawing! You don't want to miss out on a chance for this book - Here is what you do...

Leave me a comment (with your email address or way to reach you) telling me what kind of mystery or suspense you like and you will have 1 entry in the drawing!

If you tell someone else about this interview with Nancy and they enter and put your name in the comment then you will have 3 extra entries

If you link to this interview from your own blog then you will get 2 extra entries -

And if you become a blog follower (left side of my blog) there will be 2 more entries for you! Good luck!

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like good ol' fashioned Nancy Drew books! Haven't read any mysteries lately - need to get on that!
Sarah Catlett

silverhartgirl said...

I still read nancy drew books. I love James patterson but not sure if you would call that a mystery

silverhartgirl said...

I am now your follower.

darbyscloset said...

I am a follower!
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

darbyscloset said...

I love the police/lawyer/law mysteries. Especially the ones where the main character is in each book, like "Harry Bosch" developed by Michael Connelly.
Thanks for askng
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

valerie2350 said...

I like Sue GRafton's 'alphabet' mysteries

valerie2350 said...

blogged entry 1
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/2009/01/cornhuskeracademy-book-giveaway.html

valerie2350 said...

blogged entry 2
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/2009/01/cornhuskeracademy-book-giveaway.html

hippmom said...

I grew up reading Nacy Drew books - still love a good mystery! THanks for introducign us to this book, Janna. Looks like a great one for my girls.

Jayme said...

i love james patterson books for their mystery and suspense. they are quick and easy reads that i just can't seem to put down once i've picked on up. this sounds like a good read as well. thanks!

jayme[dot]bouwens@yahoo[dot]com

Lora Lease said...

I love many kinds of mysteries and suspense (and enjoy all the new authors I'm being introduced through Heartsong). I am always eager to try a new author, and this seems like a neat one that several of my kids would enjoy.

asyouwiiiiish@gmail.com

Simply Stacie said...

I enjoy Nora Roberts, Agatha Christie and Robin Cook.

Simply Stacie said...

I follow!

windycindy said...

Hi, I have read many good things about this book! I like thrillers, but I also enjoy reading the "Love
Inspired Suspense" Mysteries! Please enter me in your drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Barb said...

I liked to read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys when I was a kid. As an adult, I think Brandilynn Collins writes some very suspenseful books. Please enter me in the drawing.
sbsalzer at gmail dot com

Carol M said...

I loved reading Nancy Drew! Now I read all kinds of mystery and suspense. I really like medical and legal thrillers. I know my grandchilden would love this book.
Carol M
mittens0831 AT aol.com

Jolene said...

I grew up reading Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew. Now John Grisham, Brandilyn Collins are favorites. I''ve already read where Would Cows Hide, and really enjoyed it-would love to have a copy to give away

Jolene

The Giveaway Diva said...

i love the nancy drew ones!

nicolemarielum @gmail.com

Anonymous said...

my sister, thegiveawaydiva told me about ur giveaway! I love mysteries by sydney sheldon and mary higgins clark!
glittergurl04 @hotmail.com

Asylumgirl said...

I love mysteries that still have paranormal aspects.

Deidre
http://gothicasylum.blogspot.com/
deidre_durance at hotmail dot com

Asylumgirl said...

I'm a follower!

Deidre
http://gothicasylum.blogspot.com/
deidre_durance at hotmail dot com

KR said...

I love all of the old Agatha Christie. I also enjoy James Patterson.

Anonymous said...

I like all kinds of mystery and suspense books, but I especially enjoy Robin Cook's medical mysteries :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

lucky[dot]ladybug[at]verizon[dot]net

Anonymous said...

I'm following you on Blogger :)
lucky[dot]ladybug[at]verizon[dot]net

Anonymous said...

I love a good mystery!
patti81957 @ yahoo

apple blossom said...

My daughter would love this one she loves mysteries. I'd read it first though.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

I just signed up to be a follower.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I post a post about your give away.

http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com/2009/01/blabbing-about-three-awesome-books-to.html

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Gin said...

I love mysteries. I grew up with Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon books.

le15307@msn.com

Anonymous said...

I think this would be a great book to read.

Katie from dance :)

Becky C. said...

I would love to read this book.

I love "cozy" type mysteries, and also historical mysteries.

I am a follower.

Please enter me in the contest.

Thank you,

Becky C.

rec(at)hiwaay(dot)net

Anonymous said...

My grandchildren would love this book!

Sue R.

Janna said...

And the winner is...

Darby

Congratulations!