For this month’s reaping, I’m pleased to introduce Mindy McGinnis, author of Not a Drop to Drink, to the blog! Not a Drop to Drink is a post-apocalyptic YA novel set in a world where water is outrageously expensive — and the book is out today. You can go and buy this awesome-sounding book, or try to win one here! Read on for the interview and giveaway.
Q: What are three words you would use to describe yourself and why?
Determined. Strong. Funny. Kind of an odd mix, but this is who I am. You can’t not be the first two and hope to make it in publishing. The last one is more of a coping mechanism.
Q: Based on the synopsis, Lynn sounds a lot like the other YA heroines out there — stuck in a harsh world, needing to protect both herself and her family — so what do you think makes her different?
What makes her different is her rough edges. She’s not questioning whether or not to kill to survive, she just does it. She knows no other life, and isn’t interested in anything beyond survival until something forces her to look beyond this narrow worldview. It’s a story about basic survival, but it’s also about human nature and the thin gray area between right and wrong.
Q: Do you think that Earth has a high chance of becoming like the dry wasteland setting of NOT A DROP TO DRINK?
I don’t know if I’d use the word “high,” but it’s definitely a possibility. The earth itself isn’t necessarily “dry” in the book, but drinkable water is hard to find because the population has depleted our natural resources, and cholera has infected a lot of what’s left. Is there a chance? Well, I based the story on a documentary, so…
Q: I read from your “About” page on your website that you grew up in the woods. Sweet! What kind of fond childhood memories do you have of that place?
What don’t I have? I basically would get off the bus, trot down the road and stay in the woods until my mom called me for supper. I had this whole fake life made up for myself where I gathered moss to treat my imaginary wounds and made traps around my treehouse against interlopers. So, um… wait, would you call those fond or paranoid?
Q: I think it’s awesome that you run a blog for aspiring authors! What inspired you to do it?
Basically, I’d been writing and failing at it for a decade before I landed my agent Adriann Ranta with the query for NOT A DROP TO DRINK. I know what it’s like to feel hopeless in the face of rejection. I want to help others who felt like I did, wondering how the hell people who have attained publication made it happen. So now I provide that.
Q: Finally, could you share a short excerpt from NOT A DROP TO DRINK with us?
Thirsty for a Giveaway?
Excited for Not A Drop to Drink? Mindy is generously giving away a signed hardback of her book to one lucky winner! The giveaway is open to US/CAN residents only, and will end on October 12. Please read the terms & conditions found at the bottom of the widget for more information. May the odds be ever in your favor!
Adrift on Vulcan 
Oh I really enjoyed this book! I loved Mindy’s setting and it was really thought provoking in the sense that I began to wonder what the world we live in today would be like if we weren’t careful with our resources such as water.
Thanks for sharing, love! <33
I got declined on Edelweiss (I have NO idea how that site works, honestly), but I’m so glad to hear that! Wow, Mindy must be an amazing writer in order for her book to have that much impact on you. Yeah, we’ve already depleted so much, it’s scary.
Awesome interview!
I really want to read this book- it sounds so good! The excerpt is quite intriguing, and I’ve pretty much only read favourable reviews of it as well. And the cover. So pretty 😀
Thanks, Nara! I wish the giveaway was opened internationally so you could try to win it, but eh, shipping fees are expensive. 😦 I know, though — this book sounds fantastic.
Great interview! And yay for books that came out on my birthday! 😀
Not a Drop to Drink is definitely on my wishlist. It sounds fascinating! As for whether or not I would kill to protect my pond (you know, if I lived in a world like that)… um… it’s hard to say, you know? Hardship changes people, so possibly yes. But I’m also kind of a pacifist, so who knows. D:
It’s a super tough decision! But if I’m really desperate, I think I’d kill as well… It’s a scary thought. 😥
I love this interview! Great questions, Meg! I love the description of the character and what makes her different. It really makes me want to read this one, even though the genre isn’t really up my alley. I remember being young and making a whole world in the woods too, but sadly, I grew up in suburbia, not really a very nature-esque place 😀
Thanks, Becca! I liked that, too. I think it gives Lynn a sense of realism, because she’s not “heroic” or “kind,” or any of those traits we usually see. Ha, I’ve always lived in the city, so I wouldn’t know anything about life in the woods. 😦
What a great questions Meg, especially where she explains why her character is different 🙂 This is one of those moments where I hate being an INT blogger. I can’t wait to read this book and could you imagine having this one signed ❤
Thanks for sharing this interview, it was fun reading!
I know. D: But shipping fees are expensive, so I guess it can’t really be helped… So glad you enjoyed it!
This interview was great! I’ve heard a lot about Not a Drop to Drink lately and it sounds incredibly interesting! Especially that excerpt…oh boy! I’m so happy I don’t have to WAIT to read this book because I can’t! I’ve always been very aware (and worried) about the water supply on Earth and while this book may scare the crap out of me even more, I think it’ll be incredibly fun! 🙂
I’ve actually seen some less-than-positive reviews, so I’m a bit hesitant, but it does sound really good. Ugh. Us humans can be pretty despicable sometimes, wasting materials like that. I sincerely hope something like this doesn’t happen in the future!
I loved the “what makes her different” question. I think that is a great selling point of a book! I can’t wait to go check out Mindy’s blog, even if I am not necessarily an aspiring author. I would love to see how she is helping others and kind of giving back to the writing community.
Interview posts are some of my favorite, and this one was no exception. You did a great job!
It’s a great idea, for sure! And yes — I was super impressed by Mindy’s reply to that question. I felt that it made Lynn more real, because not every heroine is goody-goody all the time.
Ahhh, thanks, Arial!
I love Mindy. I love her blog and I love the concept for Not A Drop to Drink — so much so I already bought the book 🙂
I started to read it last night and had to put it down. It’s clearly something that if I get more than two pages in, I won’t be able to stop reading it. I need to wait for a day off. It’s already so amazing.
So do I! It’s wonderful that she’s using her author skills to help other aspiring ones. And wow — that’s great to hear. NOT A DROP TO DRINK is definitely one book I want to check out in the future. Can’t wait for your review, Kim!
I have heard some great things about this book and now after I got to meet the author better I think I like the whole idea even more. I must say that main character here sounds even more real than other YA characters in similar situations. Somehow in human nature is to protect themselves so she knows in what kind of world she is living so she knows what she has to do! Great interview Meg 🙂
Right? I’ve heard both positive and negative reviews, and to be honest, that’s kind of daunting because I’m afraid I’ll end up getting disappointed when I read this. BUT! It has a really cool concept so maybe I won’t even think about those bad reviews. Thanks, Tanja. 🙂
The idea of running out for water is a little unlikely for me, since I live in the Philippines. A year without a flooding is a miracle.
Ugh, you’re lucky. My neighborhood runs out of water ALL the time, because no one wants to spend money to get the damn water tank thingy fixed. :S
I love that she grew up in the woods haha. It reminded me of Bridge to Teribithia (the book) so much. 😀
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I am so excited about this book! Hopefully I get my hands on it soon! I love the interview. I grew up in the woods too (not raised by wolves but close) so I can relate. It did make me very self-sufficient and tough. If we ever run out of water I’m pretty sure I’ll kick butt to get some!
I can’t wait to get my hands on this book!! I love that McGinnis has a blog to help aspiring authors too. Very honourable! Thanks so much for this giveaway 🙂
I think it’s SUPER possible for Earth to become a wasteland like in the book. I mean, people are already concerned about how much drinkable water we have (or don’t have) and like Mindy said: it’s based off something real. Everyone I’ve talked to said the book is scary because the possibility for this to happen is ripe. Anyhow, I’m super excited to read this book. I can’t wait to see what the hype is about.
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