June 30, 2021

Episode 64: Books about "the real stuff" with Author Pete Fanning

On this week's dose of book recommendations, library love, and literary enthusiasm, our Library Laura Podcast guest is Author Pete Fanning. Pete has 5 books for middle grade and young adults published through Immortal Works Press, including Fairy Dust Fumble which is releasing on July 6th, 2021, and his first book, Justice in a Bottle, which I had the privilege of reading prior to our conversation today. Pete is from Virginia and loves reading books about the "real stuff" in life. We talk about fatherhood, his writing process, and swap some great book recommendations.

All the books from today's episode (Bookshop.org storefront)

Find Pete Fanning on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Lunch Break Fiction, his blog, and the Immortal Works website

Follow The Library Laura Podcast on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and the Podcast Blog.

Pete's family was a big influence in his development as an author. Pete's grandmother was one of his primary beta readers and the one who told him that he wrote the younger voices the best. She would read his books with her book club at her retirement community.

Meanwhile, his step-mother Diane Fanning is also an established author (very different type of books - mostly murder mysteries and true crime). One of her books, Through the Window, included research that led to an innocent mother being released from prison as it was confirmed a serial killer had murdered her son, not her. You can read more about it here.

Prior to being published, Pete maintained a robust blog, including writing quite a bit about his children. He also enjoys writing flash fiction.

Pete Fanning's Books

Justice in a Bottle

Fairydust Fumble - coming July 6th, 2021 (and an upcoming sequel, Spellbound, which focuses on the little sister!)

Ramona and Beezus - where the little sister was just too much fun to write and ends up with her own books

Bricktown Boys

Runaway Blues

The Girl in My Treehouse

What Pete Enjoys Reading

What Pete Fanning looks for in a book: prefers contemporary or more realistic fiction..."the real stuff." Not interested in a lot of fantasy. He finds himself attracted to stories of tough kids and broken homes. He also enjoys a touch of romance and will read a good biography.

The Boxcar Children - Pete remembers reading at a very young age

Mentioned reading a biography of Lee Iacocca similar to this one: Iacocca: An Autobiography

All-time favorite book is Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt, also really likes Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos (2012 Newbery)

He also has read Bone Gap by Laura Ruby many times (partly because his dog ate the library book and so he ended up keeping it!)

Currently reading Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid, and just finished reading Rules for Disappearing