Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is happy to shine our Friday spotlight on young adult and middle grade author Scott Reintgen. I asked Scott if he could please tell us briefly a little about himself and his writing. This was his response:
My name is Scott Reintgen, and I am very newly a New York Times Bestselling author. I write fantasy and sci-fi books for both young adult and middle grade. The newest books from me are A Door in the Dark on the young adult side and The Problem with Prophecies in middle grade.
Scott, Where can people find your work? (Besides Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester–though they should totally check here first!)
My only work is my books—so I do highly suggest you find them through Annie’s Book Stop!
How can we follow your work and share your awesomeness?
You can find me on Instagram or Twitter. I’m the only Scott Reintgen in existence!
For readers unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe what you write? What can readers expect from A Door in the Dark?
I know readers have a lot of other things they could be doing besides reading my book. I take that challenge seriously, and I always try to write books that will sink their teeth into you from the jump. A Door in the Dark is no exception to that. It’s a fantasy book, but it’s crossed with thriller in a way that will have the pace moving faster than your typical fantasy. It also has one of my favorite plot twists I’ve ever written.
What was the inspiration for A Door in the Dark? What were the steps you took to bring it from initial inspiration to the finished book?
This is a fun one to talk about. A Door in the Dark comes from the bones of my very first completed novel. I took it out to agents and stacked up a healthy pile of rejection letters. A few of the characters and pieces of the plot were lifted from that first book. I’ve become a much better writer. And the story itself is way better than the original, but it’s a good reminder that nothing is wasted. Sometimes you’ll revisit an old story and find there are some good bones there, a few things worth reviving.
What character did you love or hate the most while writing? And why?
I’m going to shout out Ren Monroe—my point-of-view character. I feel like Ren is going to find a home with the readers who need her. She’s brilliant, but undervalued. Her position in her society—and at her school—does not reflect what she really brings to the table. And she’s unwilling to simply be set aside for not being born in the right family. Ren isn’t just the smart kid, she’s the cunning one too. There’s a dark side—a willingness to do whatever is needed to survive.
What is your favorite part of being a writer? Of the whole writing and publishing process? What do you think has been your greatest lesson in the journey thus far?
Ok. Here’s my favorite part. I get an idea. It’s only in my head. It belongs to me. I work on it for a while, shaping it into a story, pushing it more and more. And then one day, it’s on a shelf. You pull it off that shelf and now that idea that was only in my head?! It’s in yours! That is literal magic.
What else can we expect from you in the near future?
I know that A Door in the Dark just came out, but I always want readers to know what’s what. Book two is absolutely on the way. I’ve completed the initial drafts and it’s in really good shape. If you read and love this first book, trust me, more is on the way.
What does your writing space look like? What do you need to have around you while writing or editing?
I am a total cliché. I write in coffee shops. All of the coffee shops. I joke that I’ve got 30 different offices all around the area where I live. These are my favorite places to write, even if it does get super awkward when I have to kill off a character and I’m literally crying while I type. That’s very normal for everyone I’m sure.
What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned, thus far, in your writing career?
Keep going. Keep pushing. Adapt and grow. A Door in the Dark was my tenth book, and it just so happens to be the one that landed on the NY Times Bestseller list. You never know how long the road will be but if you do what you love, without apology, the sky is the limit.
Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day to answer our questions, Scott, And good luck with A Door in the Dark.
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