About the Author: Liesl Shurtliff writes middle-grade fantasy and likes hot cocoa, fairy tales, yoga, and slippers (fuzzy ones and glass ones.) She lives with her family in Chicago, where harsh winters are wasted on flat land.

About RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin: In a Kingdom where a name is your destiny, twelve-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone’s joke, until one day he discovers he can spin straw into gold. Glittery magical gold. Soon Rump discovers that there might be more to his name and destiny than anyone thought.

Pitch your book in 140 characters: 
RUMP is Rumpelstiltskin cast as a sweet and innocent hero in a kingdom where a name is your destiny. Rump’s destiny stinks. Spinning gold doesn’t seem to help much.

Who will this book appeal to: 
Kids (boys and girls) ages 8+ and anyone of any age who loves fairy tales and a quirky sense of humor.

Favorite moment or character in your book: 
My favorite characters are the trolls, and my favorite moment is when Rump gets captured by the trolls.

What’s your writing routine: 
Tell everyone to leave me alone and lock myself in a hole for as long as possible. It is so hard, especially with an adorable 3-year-old whose favorite thing is to “sneak.”

What’s your best piece of writing advice: 
Give. Don’t focus so much on getting ideas or getting inspiration or getting more done. Just give what you already have.

What’s been the most surprising part of the publishing journey: 
That people besides my mother actually want to read my book. Actually I’m not sure my mother cares all that much. That’s surprising too.

What did you do when you learned your book would be published: 
I was in the middle of a move, so I unpacked boxes in 100 degree heat, but I smiled real big while I was doing it.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received: 
“Don’t listen to advice. Not even mine.” —Karen Cushman

What are your top three favorite books: 
3 is a very small number. Ella Enchanted, Jane Eyre, and Jacob Have I Loved. I have eclectic tastes and tomorrow the list will be different.

What’s next for you: 
I cannot see the future, but I hope another MG fairy tale. I’m also working on a YA novel that is very different from my MG stuff.

Find out more about Rump on Goodreads.