About the Author: Jennifer McGowan writes Young Adult romance full of swash and buckle. Her first novel, Maid of Secrets, debuts May 7, 2013 from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

About Maid of Secrets: Seventeen-year-old Meg Fellowes is a wry, resourceful thief forced to join an elite group of female spies in Queen Elizabeth’s Court. There she must solve a murder, save the Crown, and resist the one thing that will become her greatest freedom–and her deadliest peril.

For Meg and her fellow spies are not alone in their pursuit of the murderer who stalks Windsor Castle.

A young, mysterious Spanish courtier, Count Rafe de Martine, appears at every turn in the dark and scandal filled corridors of the Queen’s summer palace. And though secrets and danger are Meg’s stock-in-trade, she’s never bargained on falling in love…

Today, we’ve got a short Twitterview with Jennifer to share! 

Pitch your book in 140 characters:
Maid of Secrets is the story of a wry, resourceful thief forced to join an elite group of girl spies in Queen Elizabeth’s Court.

Who will this book appeal to:
Anyone who enjoys Elizabethan intrigue, romance and spy adventures—and ideally all YA readers who love historical fiction.

Favorite moment or character in your book:
When Meg, the titular Maid of Secrets, finally knows who she really is. Second favorite: whenever Meg steals something from Rafe.

What’s your writing routine:
I write best when I write first – even if it’s just a small bit. If I start the day writing, it becomes a writing day. Which is a good day.

What’s your best piece of writing advice:
Never stop writing, even if you slow wayyy down because of life/work/etc. And read books that can teach you something. Never stop learning.

What’s been the most surprising part of the publishing journey:
The timetable.  You can spend months without hearing a word, and then everything happens in a rush.

What did you do when you learned your book would be published:
I treasured the news as my own magical secret for about 30 seconds. Then I called my mom. There may have been chocolate involved. And tears.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received:
Read good books and watch good movies. And keep writing. (Sorry, that’s two pieces.)

What are your top three favorite books:
If “favorite” can equal “most lasting impact”: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE; A WRINKLE IN TIME; and THE RETURN OF THE KING.

What’s next for you:
Writing Beatrice’s story for Maid of Deception (2014) and another, completely different tale. So, in short: living the writer’s life!

Find out more about Jennifer McGowan’s Maid of Secrets on Goodreads.