MEDIA KIT
Contact Information
Email: marcykate@gmail.com
Website: www.marcykate.com
Twitter: @marcykate
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For all rights inquiries, please contact Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media.
Official Bios
MarcyKate Connolly is a New York Times Bestselling children’s book author and nonprofit marketing professional living in New England with her family and a grumble of pugs. She can be lured out from her writing cave with the promise of caffeine and new books. You can visit her online at www.marcykate.com.
MarcyKate Connolly is a New York Times bestselling children’s book author who lives in New England with her family and a grumble of pugs. She graduated from Hampshire College (a magical place where they don’t give you grades) where she wrote an opera sequel to Hamlet as the equivalent of senior thesis. It was also there that she first fell in love with plotting and has been dreaming up new ways to make life difficult for her characters ever since. You can visit her online at www.marcykate.com.
MarcyKate Connolly is a New York Times Bestselling children’s book author and nonprofit marketing professional living in New England with her family and a grumble of pugs. She can be lured out from her writing cave with the promise of caffeine and new books. Twin Daggers is her debut young adult novel, and she’s also the author of several middle grade fantasy novels including Monstrous and Ravenous, and the Shadow Weaver series. You can visit her online at www.marcykate.com.
TWIN DAGGERS Series
Blink YA/HarperCollins
Release Date: 8/25/2020
ISBN: 978-0310768142
Hardcover, ebook, audiobook
Young Adult Fantasy
Aissa’s life is a web of carefully constructed lies. She and her twin sister, Zandria, are Magi spies, a magical people most believe to be extinct. And they’re on a mission for revenge.
This action & adventure spy thriller—a fantasy spin on Romeo and Juliet from New York Times bestselling author MarcyKate Connolly—is perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer and Elly Blake and is about to become your new obsession!
By day, Aissa and Zandria play the role of normal young Technocrats eager to fulfill the duties of their new apprenticeships. By night, they plot their revenge to retake their city from the Technocrats. But then Aissa is given a new mission: find the heir to the Technocrat throne, who is rumored to be one of the Heartless, and kidnap her. Born without a working heart, the Heartless survive with a mechanical replacement.
Aissa is more likely to be caught than to be successful, but she’s never been one to turn down an assignment, even if the hunt is complicated by a kind Technocrat researcher who is determined to find a cure for the Heartless. But when Zandria is captured by the Technocrats, Aissa will do anything to get her sister back. Even if it means abandoning all other loyalties—and missions—and deciding whether or not it’s worth risking everything on getting help from her sworn enemies.
Blink YA/HarperCollins
Release Date: 8/10/2021
ISBN: 978-0310768142
Hardcover, ebook, audiobook
Young Adult Fantasy
Now torn between two worlds, Aissa must decide who she can trust. Especially when it comes to her twin.
Now without a home and on the run, Aissa has never felt so trapped and alone even with her sister and friend by her side. Zandria—once her other half—has become cold and inflexible after her time in the Technocrat’s dungeon and is bent on revenge Aissa no longer feels. Their friend Remy may still side with his father, a Magi leader who refuses to believe his spymaster has turned traitor. And Aissa herself is now an enemy of her Magi people after falling in love with—and binding her heart to—Aro, a Techno prince who puts all their lives at stake.
Using clues her parents and others left behind, Aissa is determined to uncover the secrets of the Alchemist Alliance that created her and Zandria’s unique magical powers … as well as learn whether the Alliance’s research holds the key to healing the rift between the Magi and Technocrats after centuries of war. But with her people preparing for battle, and Darian poised to use the Technocrats’ might for his own ends, it will take more than lost spells and hidden secrets to accomplish her goal. Especially as the dangerous bond between her and Aro grows deeper and threatens everything Aissa has ever believed.
“A taut, emotionally arresting fantasy.”
-Kirkus
“Open this book and be transported into a world of magic, machines and espionage. Twin Daggers is a riveting story about the length two sisters will go for each other. And be prepared—they will steal your heart.”
-Rebecca Ross, author of Sisters of Sword and Song
“Twisting and face-paced, Twin Daggers is an exciting new fantasy series filled with charming magic, harrowing politics, and the bittersweet struggle of star-crossed lovers. Be careful, dear reader, for Aissa and Aro are sure to steal your heart.”
-Mindee Arnett, author of Onyx & Ivory
THE STAR SHEPHERD
Sourcebooks Young Readers
Release Date: 9/10/2019
ISBN:978-1492658207
Hardcover, ebook, audio
Middle Grade Fantasy
Neil Gaiman meets How to Train Your Dragon in this beautifully illustrated middle-grade novel about a boy, his trusted dog, and his best friend, as they race to save the stars before their light is extinguished for good.
When the world first formed, the night was black and filled with dark creatures. The Elders knew their people couldn’t survive under such a threat. So they gave their hearts to the sky in the form of stars to keep evil away.
Now, eleven-year-old Kyro is a Star Shepherd like his father. He’s spent his life tucked away in the small town of Drenn. There, the family watches the night sky for falling stars―and rushes to rescue them when they do.
When too many stars start falling at once, and disappearing before they can be saved, Kyro’s father journeys to report the threat. But when he doesn’t return, Kyro, with the help of his best friend, Andra, and his trusty dog, Cypher, must find a way to save the stars before the dark creatures make a terrifying return.
“A story about friendship, family, and finding your way in the world—this book truly shines!”
-Jen Calonita, author of the Fairy Tale Reform School series
“A pleasant steampunk-esque fantasy.”
-School Library Journal
“Uplifting and inviting from beginning to end, The Star Shepherd is a fantasy that’s focused on kindness, courage, and constellations of possibilities.”
-Foreword Reviews
“Readers will relish this fantasy with high suspense and clever plot twists. Loyalty, friendship, parent/child relationships, good vs. evil, and quests are all addressed. Highly recommended.”
-School Library Connection
“A wondrous celestial fable.”
-Kirkus
“An engaging entrée into fantasy, helped along by striking black-and-white illustrations and a satisfactory ending.”
-Publishers Weekly
THE STAR SHEPHERD
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HOLLOW DOLLS Series
Sourcebooks Young Readers
Release Date: January 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1492688198
Middle Grade Fantasy
How can you keep secrets, when someone’s in your mind?
Simone is a mind reader. She knows a great many things about everyone she meets, but she can’t seem to remember anything about her past or where she came from. After finally being free for the first time in a long time, she sets off, determined to find her home.
When she stumbles across a man with two minds inside him – the real one, shoved deep down, and one of a body walker, someone who can take over a person’s body against their will – Simone is even more eager to leave her old life behind.
As Simone dives deeper into her history, she learns truths she never could have imagined. But when those she loves start disappearing around her, Simone knows only she can stop the evil.
Set in the same fantasy world as the Shadow Weaver duology, this series starter weaves a tale of secrets, power, magic, and the long path to home.
Sourcebooks Young Readers
Release Date: October 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1492688228
Middle Grade Fantasy
The thrilling conclusion to the Hollow Dolls duology continues Simone’s story as she sets out with her friends to stop the body walker once and for all.
Simone is still reeling from learning the truth about her mother, Maeve. But she knows she has to stop her before she finds what she’s looking for and ends up hurting her friends in the process.
When Simone stumbles across an old legend about a handful of folks with rare and powerful talents who fled to a secret island haven, she wonders if the soul summoner Maeve seeks could be there. So she and Sebastian set off to find it, hoping to get to there before Maeve does.
But as Simone and her traveling party draw closer to the island, it becomes clearer that Maeve will stop at nothing to get what she wants. And if her evil isn’t stopped, it could mean terrible consequences for everyone Simone loves.
With the gripping feel of a new classic, the Hollow Dolls duology will enthrall middle school readers who love fantasy, magic, and danger.
HOLLOW DOLLS
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LOST ISLAND
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SHADOW WEAVER Series
Sourcebooks Young Readers
January 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-1492649953
Hardcover, ebook, paperback, audiobook
Middle Grade Fantasy
The shadows that surround us aren’t always as they seem…
Emmeline has grown up with a gift. Since the time she was a baby she has been able to control shadows. And her only friend and companion is her own shadow, Dar.
Disaster strikes when a noble family visits their home and offers to take Emmeline away and cure her of magic. Desperate not to lose her shadows, she turns to Dar who proposes a deal: Dar will change the noble’s mind, if Emmeline will help her become flesh as she once was. Emmeline agrees but the next morning the man in charge is in a coma and all that the witness saw was a long shadow with no one nearby to cast it. Scared to face punishment, Emmeline and Dar run away.
With the noble’s guards on her trail, Emmeline’s only hope of clearing her name is to escape capture and perform the ritual that will set Dar free. But Emmeline’s not sure she can trust Dar anymore, and it’s hard to keep secrets from someone who can never leave your side.
The first in a dark middle-grade fantasy duology, MarcyKate Connolly weaves a tale filled with shadows, danger, and magic that has the feel of a new classic.
Sourcebooks Young Readers
Release Date: 1/1/2019
ISBN: 978-1492649984
Hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook
Middle Grade Fantasy
Something is very wrong with the sky…
Emmeline and Lucas are safe from Lady Aisling and her soldiers for the time being. The only thing that mars their peaceful life is Emmeline’s former shadow, Dar. Still shut in her cage, she constantly tries to manipulate Emmeline to set her free.
Then one night the Cerelia Comet-the reason for their magical abilities-returns… Twelve years too early. The return of the comet can only mean one thing, Lady Aisling has a sky shaker under her control and is hoping for a new batch of talented children to add to her collection.
Emmeline and Lucas journey to find other talented children who can help in the fight against Lady Aisling. But when Dar escapes, and the two friends realize many of the children they seek have already been taken, it’s clear the sky shaker might be the least of their worries.
The thrilling conclusion to MarcyKate Connolly’s Shadow Weaver duology that follows Emmeline and Lucas as they face the darkness that has shadowed their lives.
SHADOW WEAVER
“Connolly’s descriptions of magic, especially of Emmeline’s shadow-play, are vivid and invigorating.”
-School Library Journal
“This book contains plenty of action and intrigue to keep the reader turning pages. It is quick to read and contains enough unsolved mysteries to make the reader look forward to the next title in the series.”
-School Library Connection
“The interplay of light and dark and the moral ambiguity threaded through Connolly’s worldbuilding are everything readers have come to expect from the author of Monstrous (2015)… Fans of Serafina and the Black Cloak (2015) will find much the same chills and sequel-primed mystery here.”
-Kirkus
“Emmeline’s evocative first-person narrative grabs readers and pulls them into the story. Connolly crafts strong, well developed characters and a realistic setting in which readers will have no trouble getting lost. Her use of language and suspense is captivating, resulting in a gripping tale that is wholly original. Dark, yet dazzling, this first installment in a planned duology is sure to be popular. A perfect choice for fans of Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon (2016).”
-Booklist, starred review
“Shadow Weaver is a spooky thriller filled with danger and magic…a fresh take on magic and friendship not to be missed.”
-Shelf Awareness, starred review
“The theme of friendship is handled deftly here… A gripping finale reveals the truth about the ‘cure’ for magic, and readers will eagerly anticipate learning more in a promised sequel.”
-Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Connolly’s narrative is full of meaningful moral lessons—on the limits of loyalty, the importance of honesty, and the absolute necessity of trusting others…an enchanting new juvenile fantasy series.”
-Foreword Reviews
COMET RISING
“Connolly again spins a magical tale; she deftly crafts moods and creates a sense of urgency that will leave readers breathless.”
-Booklist, starred review
“A captivating volley of revelations and resolutions.”
-Kirkus
COMET RISING
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SHADOW WEAVER
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MONSTROUS Series
HarperCollins Children’s Books
February 10, 2015
ISBN: 978-0062272713
Hardcover, paperback, ebook, audio
Upper Middle Grade Fantasy
The city of Bryre suffers under the magic of an evil wizard. Because of his curse, girls sicken and disappear without a trace, and Bryre’s inhabitants live in fear. No one is allowed outside after dark.
Yet night is the only time that Kymera can enter this dangerous city, for she must not be seen by humans. Her father says they would not understand her wings, the bolts in her neck, or her spiky tail—they would kill her. They would not understand that she was created for a purpose: to rescue the girls of Bryre.
Despite her caution, a boy named Ren sees Kym and begins to leave a perfect red rose for her every evening. As they become friends, Kym learns that Ren knows about the missing girls, the wizard, and the evil magic that haunts Bryre.
And what he knows will change Kym’s life.
Reminiscent of Frankenstein and the tales of the Brothers Grimm, this debut novel by MarcyKate Connolly stands out as a compelling, original story that has the feel of a classic.
HarperCollins Children’s Books
February 9, 2016
ISBN: 978-0062272744
Hardcover, paperback, ebook
Upper Middle Grade Fantasy
A witch has come to the city of Bryre. She travels in a hut that has chicken feet, and is ravenous for children. And once she gets what she desires, she never lets it go.
But when the witch captures Hans, Greta’s little brother, Greta refuses to let her have him. The two strike up a bargain. Greta will retrieve something the witch desires in exchange for her brother’s freedom.
To get the prize Greta must travel to Belladoma—a city where she was once held captive—which brings back terrible memories. With the help of a new friend, Dalen, a magical half-boy and half-horse, Greta embarks on the journey and tries to overcome both foes and her own weaknesses.
For fans of Monstrous and new readers alike comes the story of an epic quest and a heroine who will stop at nothing to save the one she loves most.
MONSTROUS
“A likely read-aloud that has its share of guts, blood, and grim reality within this fantasy land, Monstrous will keep young readers thinking about trust, good and evil, friendship and loyalty, and devotion to community.”
-Booklist
“Like a literary mad scientist, MarcyKate Connolly takes bits from classic fairy tales and legends and uses them to assemble a creation that is wholly original and wonderfully strange. Subversive, bewitching, and whip-smart, Monstrous is a marvel of storytelling alchemy.”
-Anne Ursu, author of Breadcrumbs and The Real Boy
“Pays tribute to classic fairy tales while turning the tradition on its head. A smart, ambitious adventure, led by a heroine whose differences only enhance her humanity.”
-Emma Trevayne, author of Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times
“Readers seeking a lengthy, thoughtful novel, particularly those who appreciate careful world-building, will find this worth their time.”
-Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Once I started reading, I could hardly do anything else–the elegant writing, vividly imagined world, and Kymera’s marvelous strength kept me hooked. Brave, refreshing, and entirely enchanting, Monstrous is a book that will stand the tests of time.”
-Claire Legrand, author of The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls and The Year of Shadows
“Frankenstein meets Coraline in this creepy tale. Kymera, reborn of animal parts and a human brain, knows nothing except that she loves her father, who has built her for a mysterious, disturbing purpose. Though Kymera’s guileless narration ensures that readers always suspect more than she does, Connolly’s technique effectively builds a sense of dread, as does her skillful interweaving of fairy-tale elements.”
-Horn Book Guide
“From its first line, Monstrous had me in its grip. MarcyKate Connolly has created a fresh and wildly inventive dark fairy tale about Kym, a protagonist as sweet as she is strong. Kym’s bravery shines, as she fights against the menacing forces in Bryre and also struggles to figure out where she, a self-described monster of a girl, belongs. This remarkable, absorbing debut will enchant readers.”
-Rebecca Behrens, author of When Audrey Met Alice
“Connolly invokes fairy-tale elements with ease, and…the formidable theme of sacrifice resonates far beyond the final page.”
-Publishers Weekly
“Magic, fantastic creatures, mythology, & a bit of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein combine here for an exciting…tale.”
-School Library Journal
“While Kymera’s journey reads like a timeless fairy tale, my favorite thing about her is that she’s not waiting to be rescued. She is the rescuer. She’s tough, vibrant, intelligent and brave enough to be vulnerable. This is a dazzling and unique once-upon-a-time about a girl who is part dragon, part bird, part cat, all hero.”
-Natalie Lloyd, author of A Snicker of Magic
RAVENOUS
“Fans of the first installment will seek out this adventure-filled fairy tale.”
-School Library Journal
“A fantastical adventure fortified by its flawed heroine.”
-Kirkus
“With vials of potions, clues in a book of fairy tales, and a hungry sea monster, there is magic to behold on these fast-paced pages. Within this creative realm, Connolly compassionately explores human emotions as Greta grapples with a newly discovered lineage. A welcome return to a complex land of fantasy and friendship.”
-Booklist
“It’s nice that Greta’s sort of a mess—she flares up at the wrong times, she alienates would-be allies on occasion, and she’s just plain grumpy. Even with her flaws, her fierce dedication to her brother is admirable, and her slow transformation into a more accepting, open person is all the more satisfying given her earlier closed views.”
-Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
MONSTROUS
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RAVENOUS
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