We have such a treat for you today! An interview with author, Nova McBee, and a giveaway of her debut novel, Calculated! I had an opportunity to read this book before it came out, I’m happy to share my whole-hearted endorsement, and also, a bit about Nova.
CALCULATED is an intelligent thrill ride! In Jo Rivers, author Nova McBee has given readers a heroine who is mathematically gifted beyond what most can imagine, and somehow immensely relatable, even as her greatest skills are exploited by international criminals. Sleek and sophisticated, with dark secrets at every turn, CALCULATED is impossible to put down.
Shannon Dittemore, author of WINTER, WHITE AND WICKED
Nova McBee is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Calculated series, a young adult fiction series that includes three books so far: Calculated, Simulated, Activated, and upcoming Liberated.
Calculated is currently in development to become a major motion picture, with One Door Studios and we recently announced Emmy Award winning screenwriter, Ann Peacock, best known for The Chronicles of Narnia, to adapt the novel for screen.
CALCULATED: Set in Seattle and Shanghai, Calculated follows teen math genius Jo Rivers after she is kidnapped by an international smuggler determined to use her gift to enrich a criminal empire. To gain her life back, Jo escapes and plans revenge on her powerful captors—but an old vow, an off limits boys, and a looming international crisis stands in her way.
Now, for that interview I promised you all!
Nova! I couldn’t be more pleased to share our space with you today. Tell us, where did the idea for your fast-paced, incredibly clever Calculated series come from?
The Calculated books are set all over the world with an international cast—which is definitely a direct result of me growing up in a multi-cultural home and living abroad in 7 countries over a span of 19 years, not to mention my intense, wild adventures during said years! When you believe you can explore, love, conquer the world, crazy things happen, lol. Never be afraid to live your best life because everything we experience adds to our writing life at the right time. I would have never been able to write these books if I hadn’t lived the experiences I did first.
As for Calculated’s origin, there are several ingredients: Living in China for years; engaging in anti-trafficking awareness in Seattle and Asia; reading the Count of Monte Cristo & comparing it to the classic story of Joseph; developing tension & resonating with a fast-paced first person POV stories like Hunger Games & Divergent, and pure imagination of what The Count or Joseph would look like if that story were to happen today.
As for writing prodigies & cool spy stuff? Major research! I knew Jo Rivers had to have a gift that would set her apart and give her an edge. To create the mathematical lens with which she sees the world, took immense work, but it paid off! I can’t count (pun intended) how many times readers & reviewers have told me that Jo Rivers is one of the most original characters they have read in years! Never be afraid of hard work or your wild ideas!
Was Calculated your first completed novel? We’d love to hear about your journey to publication.
Yes! It was the first novel that I took seriously from beginning to end, to edit it to a point of “industry standard.” It was with this book that I stepped into the publishing world—querying agents, pitching at conferences, entering contests (I was a Pitchwars Mentor & Mentee), and letting film producers read it, which resulted in a film deal. Before Calculated, I wrote a TON of WORDS. I practiced writing all kinds of stories and novels. I devoured EVERY blog post of “to-do’s” to improve, stalked writing programs online or Master’s Programs Syllabuses’, and did everything they said to improve my writing. Oh, yeah, and I READ A TON of books in the genre I wanted to be in: YA.
Other than that, my journey was very backwards. I got an agent (after 2+ years of querying), then film deal (8 months later), then audiobook deal (6 months later), and lastly a book deal (6 months later)!
I’ve always been so enamored by your journey to the shelf! It’s good for our readers to hear that every journey is different, and no two journeys are the same! Tell us, what is the hardest part of the novel writing process for you? The easiest?
Drafting “big picture” or “big ideas” are the easiest part for me. First drafts are a breeze. The hardest part is putting them all together in a complex & seamless way to build the bones of the story that will be all the things: fast-paced, intriguing, mysterious, tense, relatable, deep, witty, and with a voice and characters you won’t easily forget. –That part takes time. I’m a deep feeler and a non-linear thinking/writer, which means I write out of order and put “puzzle pieces” together. I often rewrite my chapters 8-9 times or move them around to make sure they FEEL right. So, basically perfecting a novel (lol) is where the real work happens, and for most writers, that isn’t easy. Prepare yourself!
I totally agree! Novels are made in revisions! Would you describe yourself as a discovery writer or an outliner (plotter or pantser)?
I outline my entire big-picture plot in three acts, and then break it down into chapter outlines, then I brainstorm in a journal every possibility I can that will be in each part of this story! I always write my favorite scenes first to get a feel for the story. But inevitably, the “discovery” happens as the story progresses. Plot points don’t work out as they do in the outline, and I always leave room for changes.
Same! My characters often make decisions entirely without me! If you could look every one of our readers in the face and give them your best writing advice, what would you say?
Practice a lot (on your own writing & other’s—editing CP’s work always makes you better) and press into who you are as a writer, what’s your vision? Stick with it! What are the themes that excite you? Tell that story! Don’t think you’ll get there? DON’T GIVE UP, those who keep going, make it!
Such good advice, Nova! Thank you so much for joining us today and for sharing a bit about your journey. We’re so grateful you took the time! I love that Calculated is just the beginning of a series that promises more thrills and more heart.
Now! Here’s that giveaway we promised!
To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment for Nova. Ask her a question, perhaps, or let her know how much you appreciated reading about her journey. One random winner will receive a copy of CALCULATED!
Next Wednesday, we’ll announce the winner, here and on our Instagram page.
Please be sure to comment using an active email address so we can contact the winner. Thanks all! Happy commenting!
Shannon Dittemore is an author and speaker. Her books include the Angel Eyes trilogy, a supernatural foray into the realm of angels and demons, as well as the fantastical adventure novel Winter, White and Wicked. Its sequel, Rebel, Brave and Brutal is due out January 10, 2023.
Shannon’s stories feature strong female leads grappling with fear and faith as they venture into the wilds of the unknown. She’s often wondered if she’s writing her own quest for bravery again and again.
It’s a choice she values highly. Bravery. And she’s never more inspired than when young people ball up their fist and punch fear in the face.
To that end, Shannon takes great joy in working with young writers, both in person and online at Go Teen Writers, an instructional blog recognized by Writer’s Digest four years running as a “101 Best Websites for Writers” selection.
For more about Shannon and her books, please visit her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Hello Ms. Nova! I just wanted to say that your writing journey was very inspiring to me and that I thought the way you got your book deal last was really interesting, because I didn’t even know that was possible!
Thank you! Yep it was very interesting for me too. Everybody’s publishing journey looks so different that’s why it’s important to keep moving forward even when things look like they’re not working!!!
Reading about your journey and writing process was very encouraging for me, Nova.
Your process sounds similar to my current one, so learning that my messy, non-linear process really can be successful gives me courage! I feel like I can trust it a little more now. Thanks!
Hey there, I’m very happy to meet another nonlinear writer! It’s a beautiful process!!!
Thank you for your awesome answers in the interview! You said you lived in seven countries over the span of 19 years. Which country was your favorite and why?
Hi! That is very difficult for me to say, because I love each country in such a different way. There is almost no way to compare them. But I will say the countries I stayed the longest in and speak the deepest language are China and Italy and they hold a very important place in my heart!!
Hi Ms. Nova!
Did you have to have a day job while you were querying and finding an agent, taking steps to get your book published? I am interested in knowing because many people have told me that’s what I need. How do you balance a day job and writing?
While I was writing calculated I was living in China! I was teaching but it was not full-time;))
Writing was not my sole focus in the beginning, and even now I’m still involved in many other things apart from writing!
Wait…you adapted THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA for screen????!!! That is literally so amazing! I loveeeeeeeee those movies so much. Did you help with all three of them?
Sorry for the confusion! The screenwriter who was selected to adapt Nova’s novel, Calculated, into a movie is the screenwriter who adapted Chronicles.
That would be awesome but no, Ann peacock adopted the chronicles of Narnia and now is adopting a Calculated for film!
*facepalm* Cheese Louise, my brain must have been dead or something. XD But that is SO COOL. I CANNOT wait for the film to come out! *waits in suspense and hopes brain functions correctly in the future*
So happy to have you hear with us, Nova! I loved learning more about your writing process.
Thank you so much for sharing, Nova! It’s always so encouraging to hear author’s stories!
Whoops sorry wrong spot ?
Happens to us all!
Thanks Lydia!!!
When you lose motivation or feel overwhelmed, how do you get back on track?
First, Prayer! Then, my husband & Friends! Critique partners! Rereading my favorite chapters that made me love this story! Curry and lots of coffee and chai ;))
I loved reading this interview and hearing the story of how Calculated came to be! I recently read the book on audio and loved it so, so much!! It was so inspiring as a writer because of how amazing it was! It seems so many books these days are just “so so”, but the books that I crave and will always reach for first are books like Calculated – books that are incredible! Jo was such an unique main character with struggles that pulled me in and made me sympathize with her. The whole cast was a lot of fun and there wasn’t a single character that wasn’t unique in some way. Have I expressed how much I loved it yet? XD Lol! I haven’t gone on to finish the series yet but I’m anxious to! I guess I’m trying to savor them because, as I said, it’s so hard to find truly impeccable books like this one these days. And a movie of it?!?!?! Sign me up!!!!!!!
Oh wow thank you so much for this! I would definitely continue the series if you like unique characters and more depth and so much more fun to come! Let me know when you do!
Ms. Nova
Congratulations for your accomplishments!
A question, who do you write for, yourself or for others?
Thank you so much for sharing, Nova! It’s always so encouraging to hear author’s stories!
Hello Ms. Nova! How and what sorts of resources or places do you use for the research? And do you think it’s possible for someone who has never been to a certain place, city, etc. to write about that place convincingly and appropriately with just the help of, for example, Google Street View?
Also, can someone please tell me what “CP” means, because I have no idea what it means! XD.
CP is critique partner. I’m glad you asked! We’ve all asked that question at some point 🙂
I always love hearing the behind the scenes of an author’s journey!
What is your biggest tip for recovering from writing burnout?
I’m still shocked at the fact that her books are going to be movies! That’s so cool! 😀
Hi!
Your publication – and movie – journey is fascinating. I can’t wait to see it – how is it being produced?
My students are reading this for a book club pick later this school year. As a YA author, what’s something you hope that they take away from this book?
It’s so cool to hear about the book, Nova! I’m excited to read it!
I loved reading about your writing journey, Ms. Nova! It’s always so inspiring to me to hear about every author’s different writing journeys!!! This was an awesome interview, and I enjoyed reading it!!! Thank you!!
This book sounds fantastic! Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Hi, Ms. Nova! Thank you for your inspiring answers. Can’t wait to read your books! 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story. That’s so interesting to hear how you came to publication!
Your story is so cool! I don’t think I’ve heard of an author getting a film deal *first*, so that’s super interesting (not to mention exciting)! Thank you for sharing your story!