The follow-up to Zeno Alexander’s acclaimed middle-grade fantasy THE LIBRARY OF EVER features a dangerous takeover of the magical Library as our heroine fights to make knowledge free for everyone.
We are thrilled to have Zeno Alexander at The Winged Pen talking about the newest adventures of Lenora and the Library of Ever, as well as his thoughts on publishing in this alternate reality.
Lenora returns to the magical Library—which holds every book ever known on its shelves. But she discovers the Library is under new management, its incredible rooms and corridors turned dark and sinister.
She quickly connects with a secret resistance that’s trying to free knowledge from the shadows threatening it. Her new friends introduce her to an ancient lost city, hang-gliding, and mathematical beings larger than the universe itself. And they help her face the mysterious Board of new leaders—who are leading the Library into darkness.
Now it’s up to Lenora to prove that knowledge is always more powerful than ignorance and fear. (Goodreads)
And now… here’s Zeno Alexander!
TWP: Without giving too much of the story away, what is your favorite fact learned while chronicling Lenora’s role as a library apprentice in this current book?
ZA: As always with Lenora, I enjoy learning about many things – but perhaps the most interesting was the study of large numbers, using the Googology Wiki (https://googology.wikia.org/wiki/Googology_Wiki) as my guide.
TWP: We all have memories of going to the library, maybe some as exciting as Lenora’s. Can you tell us your favorite memory and what libraries mean to you?
ZA: I remember visiting a library as a child to see Halley’s Comet in 1986. They were open at night and had telescopes set up for the purpose. This taught me that libraries exist for far more than just checking out books.
TWP: That sounds like an amazing experience. And yes, libraries have so much to offer! What do you hope readers take away from Lenora’s quest to save the library?
ZA: Lenora’s quest is a quest we all face. The same forces that are battling her attempts to save knowledge exist all around us. I hope we can all become Lenoras, and fight them off for the sake of our world, just as she does.
TWP: We agree! Making sure libraries are safe and available is such an important and necessary job. Will we be following Lenora as she continues to protect the Library of Ever?
ZA: I hope we will. This has not been decided yet, however. Regardless, Lenora’s saga will go on for all time.
TWP: Lenora is a superhero, fighting dark forces to make knowledge available to everyone. For me, creators of knowledge are superheroes as well, and it’s disappointing not to be able to meet them in person. As the author chronicling these adventures, how has it been not being able to meet readers right now?
ZA: This has been difficult. When THE LIBRARY OF EVER launched last year, I was able to meet with many eager readers and answer their questions. I looked forward to more of the same this year. However, for reasons beyond any of our control, this has not happened. I grieve for this, but I also hope to make up for it in the future, as I know this story is important (why else would I have chronicled it?) and I want to engage with those who have read and loved it.
TWP: As an author with several books gracing our library and bookstore shelves, you know book releases are an exciting time. Can you talk about a few ways you have changed your book release strategies, for example, your Skype visit offer?
ZA: There was little time to plan, as the timing of things did not make it apparent what was going to happen until a few weeks to go. Once it did, I was lucky to have an eager agent (Paige Wheeler) and enthusuastic friends who were able to jump in with ideas and help. We’re going to have ongoing virtual events (such as an audiobook raffle and sticker giveaway), and yes, I have an open offer to do Skype/Zoom/etc visits with those who have read the book. These will be ongoing, and I still hope to have a live launch party at some point, however long that might be.
TWP: We are glad you are able to connect with readers, even virtually, and we will be following you around the internet! Do you have any words of wisdom for authors struggling with their book release?
ZA: I wish I did, but this is really the first time in living memory (I think) that anything of quite this nature has impacted book publishing worldwide. The best words of wisdom came from my editor at Macmillan, who said we should treat April not as a “release date”, but a “release window”, as fewer books are being published at the moment (apparently, many books with more lead time were able to have their releases delayed – whether that would have been a good or bad thing for REBEL, I can’t say).
TWP: A release window. That is a great way of looking at it. And for the kids – and adults – stuck at home, there is no better company than a book. REBEL IN THE LIBRARY OF EVER will take you on adventures far away from home!
TWP: What is the best way for readers to connect with Zeno Alexander?
ZA: I love to hear from readers! These are the best ways:
Email: zenoalexander@pm.me
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZAlexanderBooks
Thank you very much for joining us Zeno and sharing your thoughts. This is a series everyone will want to read and own. You can buy REBEL IN THE LIBRARY OF EVER at Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. You can also find out more about the first book in the series here.
Zeno Alexander: After emerging from the shadows of the past, his history yet to be fully explained, Zeno Alexander spent years exploring the world’s libraries before settling down in his lavish underground bunker, where he regularly hosts exquisite dinner parties and tends to his collection of extinct plants. His friendship with the famous librarian, Lenora, has turned into a series of biographical works devoted to chronicling her adventures.
