Tell us about It Started With a Whisper
It Started with a Whisper is “Stand By Me” with magic and revenge. It centers around Puppy MacClarity and his family and the summer they spend out in the country after Puppy makes a wish of unexpected power. There’s a large cast of family, friends, and animals. Some of the animals know more of the family’s secrets than Puppy does and there are plenty of secrets for him to discover in the dark Missouri woods.

What genre is it?
Young Adult

What kind of readers will it appeal to?
Whisper doesn’t fit neatly into any category. There’s something for mystery and paranormal readers with a little thriller, too. If you like boys behaving badly and having a great time doing it, this book is for you.

Complete this sentence for us: If you like _______________, you’ll love It Started With a Whisper. 
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

Tell us a bit more about Puppy MacClarity and what makes his family special.

Puppy, in many ways, is perfectly happy. He’s popular, smart, and great at sports. But he has a blind spot when it comes to his relatives. Puppy’s family has a long history of odd. For one thing, they’ve got a family guardian, Ernest, who’s known for making wishes come true, often to the detriment of the person who makes the wish. What other family uses cats for surveillance or singing to punish the wicked?  And Puppy is a true MacClarity. He just doesn’t know it yet.

Is this book a one off or the start of a series?
It was written as a one off, but I’ve been asked for another book about this weird family. Plus, I can’t help myself. I liked them too much to consider leaving them forever.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I come from a small town in Missouri. It was a lovely place to grow up, but I knew I wanted to be a writer from the age of twelve and my little town was short on life experience. I decided to join the Air Force in hopes of seeing the world and meeting all kinds of people. It worked. I met my husband (also an A.F. member) and we traveled the world.

I started writing seriously twelve years ago when we were stationed in Italy and wrote my first novel in Germany. Now I live in Colorado, not nearly close enough to the ski slopes. When I’m not being terrified on blue runs, I’m writing and cooking. My husband says I’m trying to make him fat, but that’s not true. I just happen to love butter and heavy cream.

Have you got a blog or website where readers can keep up with your work?
Multi-tasking isn’t my friend. I keep writing instead of doing a blog or website.

How can we follow you on Facebook and / or Twitter?
I manage to do Facebook and Twitter when I’m avoiding editing. They’re good for that.

https://www.facebook.com/anne.hartoin

Twitter: @AWHartoin.

Where can we buy It Started With a Whisper?
Currently, It Started with a Whisper is on Amazon (US, UK). It will available on Barnes and Noble and Kobo in March.

What’s next?
I’m starting the third in my Middle Grade Fantasy series, Away from Whipplethorn, and finishing a full-length Mercy Watts  mystery.

Enjoyed this interview?  Then check out our conversation with Rachel Buchanan.