Blog Tour: The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog, where the blog Tour for The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare stops today. On this occasion, I have M.G Buehrlen, the author of The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare, answering some questions that I subjected interviewed her on. But before we stride ahead, take a look at what The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare is about.

The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare  

For as long as 17-year-old Alex Wayfare can remember, she has had visions of the past. Visions that make her feel like she’s really on a ship bound for America, living in Jamestown during the Starving Time, or riding the original Ferris wheel at the World’s Fair.

But these brushes with history pull her from her daily life without warning, sometimes leaving her with strange lasting effects and wounds she can’t explain. Trying to excuse away the aftereffects has booked her more time in the principal’s office than in any of her classes and a permanent place at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Alex is desperate to find out what her visions mean and get rid of them.

It isn’t until she meets Porter, a stranger who knows more than should be possible about her, that she learns the truth: Her visions aren’t really visions. Alex is a Descender – capable of traveling back in time by accessing Limbo, the space between Life and Afterlife. Alex is one soul with fifty-six past lives, fifty-six histories.

Fifty-six lifetimes to explore: the prospect is irresistible to Alex, especially when the same mysterious boy with soulful blue eyes keeps showing up in each of them. But the more she descends, the more it becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want Alex to travel again. Ever.

And will stop at nothing to make this life her last.

How did you get the inspiration for 'The 57 lives of Alex Wayfare'?
I've always been fascinated with stories about people "stepping into" someone else's body and trying to navigate their lives like in Quantum Leap or switching places with someone like in Freaky Friday. I had been playing around with the idea of Alex since I was sixteen, but none of the pieces really fit until just a few years ago when I became a rabid Doctor Who fan. That's when the time travel wheels started to turn and everything unravelled from there.

I particularly enjoyed the different world and setting that Alex goes to. How did you go about constructing the different world/settings?
I wanted each time period to feel unique and spot on. I did a LOT of research, watched a LOT of movies set in those periods and settings, and read a LOT of books too. When I was writing about 1927 Chicago, I was immersed in 1920's music, film, even newspaper clippings from the period. Same with the 60's and the 1870's. I tried to steer clear of any stereotypes and clichés from those periods. It was a lot of work, but hey, I'd happily do it again. Researching the world and setting is one of my favourite parts of the gig.

I really enjoyed The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare and serious want to know what will happen next. Will there be more books after 'The 57 lives of Alex Wayfare?' Have you got other books in the pipeline?
The sequel will hit shelves next spring, 2015, but the story doesn't stop there. I currently have four books planned for the series, but you never know. Things may change. :) Outside of the ALEX WAYFARE world, I have co-written a middle grade fantasy novel, and I'm also working on a few other solo secret projects.

Who is your favourite character in this book and why?
I can say with all honesty that it certainly isn't Alex. At least, not yet. Girl has some serious growing to do in this series. My favourite characters are those who teach Alex valuable lessons along the way, like Jensen, Blue, and even Porter. Alex has some pretty amazing people in her life. I just hope she listens to them. :)


What books would you recommend readers which you read and loved recently?
Two specific recent books that touched me deeply are The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Strangely, they are both about World War II, which I didn't plan, I swear. They each tackle WWII in ways I'd never seen before, and the writing and story structure are brilliant and breath-taking. Go forth and read!


Thank you so much MG, for answering some of my burning questions. I thoroughly enjoyed The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare and I hope my reader do so too.

Released on the 6th of March, 2014 by Strange Chemistry in the UK. 

Author Bio:

 When she’s not writing, M.G. moonlights as a web designer and social media/creative director. She’s the current web ninja lurking behind the hugely popular website YABooksCentral.com, a social network for YA (and kids!) book lovers. The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare is her debut novel. M.G. lives nestled away in Michigan pines, surrounded by good coffee and good books, with her husband and son and three furbabies. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.

 Social media links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mgbuehrlen

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/mgbuehrlenbooks

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17878473-the-fifty-seven-lives-of-alex-wayfare

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mgbuehrlen/alex-wayfare-series/

Tumblr: http://mgbuehrlen-the-hermit.tumblr.com/

Web: http://www.mgbuehrlen.com/

Preorder links:
Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | Amazon | Indiebound | The Book Depository | Waterstones