Hello friend! I am excited to host author Z. B. Meshenberg about their latest YA Fantasy novel, Rabbit Holes & Pepper Spray. Let’s get started!

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Get to know the author: Z. B. Meshenberg

Welcome to Armed with A Book! Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself!

My very long story short is that I’m a bookworm who has, as they like to say, “wanted an adventure in the great wide somewhere” for quite some time. I’ve gotten that adventure through my books, my schooling, and my travels (which is something I am truly grateful for).

I guess, if there’s anything else to add, I have a love of my hometown Chicago, IL and a fondness for TV shows such as Star Trek, Person of Interest, Downton Abbey, Battlestar Galactica and more. I love a good reference, and am almost always fiddling with a story of some kind.

What inspired you to write this book?

See, it was less like one thing inspired me and more like a conglomeration of several things. 

First off, teaching others useful information has always played a hand in anything I do. Yet for me, I don’t like dry lectures that result in a traumatic boredom. I want to engage my audience. I love to find connections between things that seem impossible (e.g., video games and grammar) and reveal said connections. All of that definitely played a hand in writing this book.

But more importantly, 2021 (the year this project officially took off) was the year I dove back into reading. I craved to explore YA books to see what I’d been missing in life, and found… well, I found out that YA was still fun to read, but something was missing. I felt that, for all the beautiful stories being brought into the world, there was something else that needed to be written.

Those are a few of the sentiments that officially inspired me. Nevertheless, because I am a pop culture machine, I’ve got to include the pop culture inspirations for the story: BBC’s Ashes to Ashes, C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, and TriStar Pictures’s Jumanji (among other forms of media). 

How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?

The idea of creating this kind of book has been ruminating in my brain for years. But in regards to the first official idea (“Let’s write about teenagers who realize their personalities are magical gifts in disguise”) probably came to mind about a year ago. As for the last edit, is it ever truly over?

But in all seriousness, I would say it has taken approximately a year to go from first idea to last edit. Initially, it had only taken about five months. But then I realized I wanted to weave the entire series together from start to finish. In order to drop all the breadcrumbs I wanted, I needed to map out as many series details as I possibly could. Hence, why it took a year.

What makes your story unique?

Goodness, that’s a tough question. There are two things that come to mind in particular.

1: the kind of magic. In this world, everyone has a magical ability, a superpower that is their own. That superpower is an extension of their personality (because I truly believe we all have superpowers, whether we recognize them or not). 

So, this can look like someone who has the ability to literally hug your pain away or it can come off as someone who can see a clear image of what makes you happy.

(The powers aren’t all cuddly and sweet though, which leads us to Reason #2).

2: the friendships and relationships in the story, not to mention the sexuality. There is romance in the background of the series, but friendship does take center-stage. But it’s not just “BFFLs 5evaaahhh” stuff. It’s also “What do you do when you wind up becoming friends with the wrong people?” 

As for the sexuality, it’s different in this story for a few reasons. I wanted to deal with sexualities that I rarely see in fiction (for instance, being asexual, demisexual, sapiosexual, etc.). Not only that, I want the sexuality in the story to ebb and flow. One of my main characters hints at their asexuality; but it’s only once we’re ⅔ through the story that we hear official confirmation.

For me, I want to show young readers that they can find people who have similar thoughts about identity and sexuality (it just might not be obvious at first). And my hope is that, because sexuality is a subtle topic in the story, it inspires other people to have curiosity about it (and look at the world with that same curiosity).

Who would enjoy reading your book? 

Age-wise? I think teenagers and young adults would gravitate toward reading my book. I’d like to think it’s available for audiences of all ages, but it might be a little too heavy and dark for children. 

But as for the personality of my readers? I think the readers who want to find meaning in their literature. Who are grieving from mistakes that absolutely valid and mistakes that are most definitely human. Who want to see the good in the world, who want to know they’re enough, who struggle to realize their full-worth.

Those are the kinds of readers I think would enjoy reading my book.

What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?

If nothing else, I want my readers to know that they have a beautiful magic of their own. And that, whether they can officially see that magic or not, they are enough as is. 

Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?

Now that is a tough question. 

For scenes, I always drift back to the moments of growth. When someone gets a chance to see their inner strength, when a closed-off character becomes vulnerable. Main or minor, every character who has been brought to “The Other Side” is given a chance to grow in some fashion.

As for a quotation, to balance out the seriousness, I’m going to bite back a laugh as I share the following (Note: this comes from a feisty character who is not in the mood for cutesy stuff) –  “Seriously? Yes, you’re a pretty princess in disguise. Woo. So special. Can we get back to the important stuff?”

You mentioned this is the first book of The Team Orange Saga. How many books are there? Do you have ideas for another series or story?

As of right now, there are four books for this particular series. I do toy with the idea of a fifth, but four feels beautifully solid. 

As for if I have other series and stories, the short answer is “Oh, yes. I’ve definitely got ideas.” 

I see possibilities for practically every character in the franchise to get their own story, whether that’s a standalone or a proper series. I also see potential for other series that play with the idea of magic in the modern world, things like that. 

To make it poetic, I feel like I’m surrounded by a hailstorm of creativity. 

But unlike normal hail, I don’t mind embracing it.

What is something you have learned on your author journey so far?

That there is more support and love from this world than I could have ever anticipated.

What’s the best piece of advice you have received?

When you can find the purpose to what you’re doing, you can find the strength to see it through.

If you could give a shout out to someone(s) who has helped in your writer journey, please feel free to mention them below!

My parents and sister have most definitely helped tremendously on this journey. My friends (Phoenix, Harley, Jamie, Ashleigh, Sophia, and more) have been a delightful addition. Not to mention, all of my supporters on TikTok (looking at you in particular, C.N. McCabe!). 

As a whole, it feels like every week I’m finding a reason to give shout-outs to the people in my life. And for that, I simply must say thank you.

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Book Excerpt from
Rabbit Holes & Pepper Spray

Chapter Twenty-One: Taylor

“Huh?”

❍

He was back in Hazel’s living room. He had somehow made it back. He couldn’t see anything, but he knew he was back. 

“Okay.” At the sound of Roscoe coming in from the kitchen, Taylor’s heart lit up. Crumpled up on the floor, Taylor listened to Roscoe declare, “I’m still recovering from all that stuff, you know?”

Chris muttered something, no doubt elbowing Roscoe. Taylor tried to smile. It didn’t work. He tried to speak. Nothing. They couldn’t hear him and he couldn’t see a thing.

Guys? 

Minutes later, Chris and Roscoe were declaring their love for one another and walking out of Hazel’s house. And Taylor was still alone, crumpled on the floor. 

That was… a little different. 

But it was okay. Because he could go after them. He could get up and––and he couldn’t move an inch. 

What? 

Taylor tried to push himself into action. He could only wheeze, pinned down by exhaustion….

❍​​❍❍❍

It felt like he’d been here for years. From time to time, Taylor thought he was beginning to regain something. He thought he could feel his body again. He was wrong. Numbness had set in. Was he stuck like this, or––“Taylor, when I told you to rebel more often, this is not what I meant.”

Mr. K? His speech teacher back from Elkvale? What was he doing here in Hazel’s living room? Taylor couldn’t ask a thing. He still couldn’t open his eyes. Mr. K carried on with his lecture, indifferent, “Following a guy like Gordon into the Gray Forest? Really not the kind of adventure I had in mind.”

How did Mr. K know about that?

Once again, there were no answers to be found. Instead, it sounded like his teacher was moving around the room, fiddling with something. Taylor remained helpless, unable to speak.

“Now, Taylor, I understand you’re reluctant to move. But I need you to turn on the radio,” 

The radio? What radio? What are you talking about?

“It’s actually pretty easy. Nothing like our last assignment. And seeing as how you were the one who brought it here,”

Taylor kept on trying to open his eyes, desperate to breathe. It wasn’t like he wanted to stay still. He wanted to move. To get up and put an end to this. He couldn’t even lift his head up. 

This doesn’t make sense. 

“Taylor,” Mr. K sounded worn out. Tired. And honestly, he sounded a little annoyed. “You’re a smart kid. You should know by now that you can’t go anywhere if you don’t turn on the radio.” 

“Can’t.” He croaked, confused. 

“Oh, yes, you can.” Why was Mr. K being rude? Couldn’t he understand where he was coming from? This guy taught him so much about communication. Why couldn’t he get what was going on? And what did it matter if some radio played? “Take your time. You’ll see.”

Taylor tried to speak, but his mentor was gone. 

He was alone again.

Right. Okay. I can do this. I can push myself up. Just onto my side, that’s all I gotta do. Take it one step at a time. It’s possible. See? I can––that numbness from before slammed Taylor back into his previous position. 

So much for that.

❍​​❍❍❍

“Taylor, I’m honestly disappointed,” Surprise, surprise: Mr. K had returned. “You haven’t bothered getting up.”

 Are you kidding me?

“Taylor, it’s okay,” Hazel? When had Hazel shown up? “You’re safe.”

This time, he could see. His eyelids were allowing him a few inches of vision. Hazel was crouched by his side, holding his hand with a smile. 

“Now then,” Mr. K interrupted the reunion, “It seems you’ve decided to phone in a friend.” 

Was Hazel here because of him? He had no control over this. He didn’t even know what was going on. 

“Let’s take this one step at a time instead of overwhelming him.” Hazel’s tone was sharp as she interrupted their teacher. 

Since when do you talk back to teachers? Are you for real?

“Hey,” Hazel chuckled, readjusting her hold on him, “Just because we’re your subconscious does not make this fake.”

My subconscious? Ugh! I’m so done with this. Just leave me alone. Please, please, just leave me alone. 

“That’s okay. You don’t have to understand.” Hazel murmured, her frown tinged with sympathy. Did she hear everything in his head? “Well, obviously, I can hear everything. But that’s because I’m you.”

And what is that supposed to mean? 

Mr. K sighed, “Just show him the ropes.”

Hazel hummed in agreement, gesturing to Taylor’s body. Taylor squinted as he tried to crane his neck, catching the sight of something orange wrapped around him, “What is that?” 

“Gordon’s power.” Mr. K informed him, “Whatever he was thinking, he left you like this. He’s not coming back to help. Which means you’re the one who has to turn the radio on.”

Taylor was irritated. There were orange ropes wrapped tightly around him. They kept him pinned to the floor of this stupid classroom, and what did Mr. K want him to do? Mr. K wanted him to act like they weren’t real. He wanted him to turn on a radio like that was going to fix everything.

“When it comes to this,” Hazel took his hand again, sympathetic, “Turning on the radio is not going to fix everything. But it will cut the ropes, so to speak.” Huh? “It’s not that Gordon’s power isn’t real. It is. But you are so much stronger than it. You’re stronger than you realize. You need time to recover, yeah. Totally. But he can’t keep you here forever. Not unless you let him.”

Okay. Back up and explain the radio thing first.

“Well,”

“No, Hazel.” Mr. K put a stop to the help, “We can’t give him everything. How else is he going to learn?”

I hate you. Taylor glared straight at the teacher. All he got was a roar of laughter. The teen ignored the laughter, looking to the radio. He could see it now. It was resting on his desk. 

Just how am I supposed to do this? His hands were bound to his body, useless. 

“Remember: this is your mind.” Mr. K didn’t bother to give a real hint, “You can control it however you like.” 

Does that mean I can get you to leave? 

Hazel snickered, “Probably.”

Good. Maybe I should focus on that first. Taylor smirked, amused. But it didn’t last long. Look, I just want out. Which apparently means I have to play this stupid radio. 

“That’s exactly what you need to do.” Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. “Whine as much as you’d like. We’re not going away anytime soon.” 

That is the first thing you’ve said that I believe. 

If only that was encouraging… 

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Interested?

Find Rabbit Holes & Pepper Spray on Goodreads and Amazon.

Thank you for hanging out with us today. Connect with Z. B. on TikTok and her website.

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If you are an indie author and would like to do a book excerpt, check out my work with me page for details. Check out other book excerpts here.

Cover image: Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash