BOOKS

Way back forever ago in May, we were so excited to introduce you to an incredible new series: the Waterfire Saga, four epic tails (er, tales) about mystical mermaids and their secret world in the depths of the ocean. And after getting hooked on Deep Blue, we've been anxiously awaiting the next piece of the story.

Rogue Wave is out today—and Serafina and her mermaid besties are back and ready to some bad-guy kick booty. Read on for a quick refresher on Deep Blue, a deeper look at Rogue Wave and our exclusive Q&A with Jennifer Donnelly. 

Take a dip into Deep Blue...
In Deep Blue, princess Serafina smells something fishy on the morning of her coming-of-age ceremony. Evil is coming—and her peoples' lives basically turn into (underwater) World War III when her mother is poisoned by an assassin’s arrow. When the battle begins, it’s up to Sera to find the monsters who shot the queen—and prevent further chaos from disrupting the mer nations. Along with her best friend, Sera sets out on a quest to find other mermaid heroines scattered across the six seas—and, together, the girls use their powers to reveal a dark conspiracy and conquer their enemy. 

Waters rage in Rogue Wave... 
Just when Sera thinks her kingdom is safe, danger strikes again in Rogue Wave. She and 5 other mermaids (Neela, Ling, Ava, Becca and Astrid) are called upon by the river witches and learn they're needed to fight more evil forces that threaten the mer people. But before they can start their mission, they must each find their own ancient family talisman—which are scattered thoughout the seas. While searching for hers, Serafina is almost captured by a death patrol and must help BFF Neela escape from a pack of razormouth dragons. As their adventure plays out, the girls must summon new courage to conquer the high tides raging toward them. 

A peek behind the pages... 

GL sat down with Waterfire Saga author Jennifer Donnelly to talk boys, besties, beauty and giving back. Scroll down to read the full Q&A...

Q: Has Princess Serafina changed since the first book, Deep Blue?
A: Totally. She’s been forced to swim out from her mother’s shadow, face her fears and her lack of confidence, and become a leader in her own right. 

Q: What inspired the story line behind Rogue Wave?
A: A question that really intrigues me—how do girls become leaders? I think the answer is: by failing. Frequently and spectacularly! You don’t succeed without making mistakes—lots of them.  It’s the only way you learn. 

Q: In Rogue Wave, Neela has trouble getting her parents to believe her when she warns them about a dangerous force that is threatening the kingdom. What is your advice for girls who want to get their parents to trust them?
A: Neela’s problem is that the hardships she’s been through have changed her radically, but her parents can’t accept that change. Unable to convince them, and even her friend Kora, that they’re all in danger, she strikes out on her own to do what she knows is right. Earning trust isn’t easy. Neela does it by being honest, responsible and accountable—and by bravely fighting for her beliefs. 
 
Q: Each of the six mermaids has a personality that’s all her own. Which character do you identify with the most?
A: That would be Astrid—the obnoxious, untactful, pain-in-the-neck one!

Q: Do you have any tips for girls who want to write sci-fi/fantasy?
A: My advice would be the same for writing any kind of book….write!  Don’t (just) think about writing, or talk about writing – write. Write stories and term papers and letters to your friends and cards to your grandmother and articles for your school newspaper and song lyrics. Every piece of writing you do makes you a better writer. Every piece forces you to think about structure and purpose, make artistic choices and figure out ways to engage your reader.

Q: Sera and the girls are always protecting their homelands (or, should we say, “sealands”). Any tips for how girls can give back to their own communities?
A: There are dozens of ways! You don’t have to be rich or powerful to make an impact. Grab some friends and some garbage bags, and pick up litter on your local beach or park. Hold a garage sale and donate the earnings to a homeless shelter.  Ask supermarkets and pet stores if they would donate broken bags of food to a local animal shelter. Can you sing? Play an instrument? Get some musical friends together and hold a concert for residents of a nursing home. 

Q: In Rogue Wave, one of the mermaids (we’re not saying who!) has a little romantic fling. What's your best dating advice?
A: Actually, it’s not little or a fling (but I’m not saying who, either!). As for advice—make sure you actually like the person you’re crushing on. Which sounds weird, I know. What I mean is, make sure your crush is also your friend—somebody who’s real, trustworthy and kind. The type of person you can share a laugh with. A secret. A bag of kale chips. And your heart.   

Q: Here at the GLHQ, we are obsessed with the exclusive Waterfire Saga nail polishes. Which color is your fave, and how do you rock it with your personal style?
A: Me, too! I’m loving the new Perilous Purple, made especially for Neela. I love dark colors on short nails, so this is right up my alley. I like to wear it with my blue velvet blazer and skinny black pants. 

Q: Unlike Sera and her friends, we don’t have magic mermaid super powers. Got any tips for dealing with bullies and bad guys in real life?
A: First of all, if someone’s bullying you—whether it’s online, in school or anywhere else, you need to tell an adult. And if the adult you tell blows you off, don’t give up—go find a real grown up who will listen and help you. Your parents or a close relative. A teacher, guidance counselor, minister or police officer. Secondly, you need to know that even though hurtful words may be directed at you, they’re not about you. All that meanness that a bully spews? It’s about her—about the anger, fear and inadequacy she feels inside. Just like Rorrim Drol, she’s stuck in her own empty world. But you aren’t. Like Sera and Neela, you have places to go and people to be and you will leave her far behind.    
 
Q: What can we look forward to in book 3 of the Waterfire Saga?
A: A nail-biting heist. A discovery made in the ruins of Merrow’s reggia. A secret (or two) revealed. Bumptious goblins. And a very jealous, dangerous, foe!  

Got any more Waterfire Saga Qs? Are you pumped to read Rogue Wave? Tell us in the comments below!

by Laurise McMillian | 2/1/2016